Run for the Prize!

A while back while sitting in a lesson with J.J. a member, he suddenly said, "Plan for the best, Expect the worst." His comment had my mind reeling for the next couple of days. How does one plan for the best but yet expect the worst?
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 1st Corinthians 9:24
Thinking about this scripture makes me think of running, now for most of you who know me I DO NOT like to run, I will do it but only if I have too.
Now this scripture does not refer to us running physically (although, if you do run in a race...you want to be in first place to obtain the prize.) but to us it means running spiritual back to God. The greatest gift that God has given us is eternal life as found in D&C 14:7 which says, "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

Is that not enough reason to run and win the greatest prize?

I think so, although when you think of running for me anyways, it is something so hard to do. I need to be motivated, I need to have the right tools to want to run. As I get the tools I do run and maybe not at the pace I would like to run but I am still running. That is how life is like. When we choose to live a Christlike life we choose to do whats RIGHT, we choose to be like CHRIST, to LOVE others regardless of their circumstances, situations, or themselves, you choose to REACH OUT, and you choose to SERVE. Even if the pace you are going at is not the pace you want or expect, you do it because you know that it brings you the most happiness.

It makes me think of my mission, how I chose to SERVE a mission to LOVE everyone that I came in contact with, to REACH out to everyone and more importantly to represent our Savior Jesus CHRIST and to become like him. I chose that path and it was one of the best decision that I have ever made. I have become a better version of me.

  Although, I am not a runner, I am running a spiritual race as we all are. There is no 1st place for we are all equal in God's eyes but he wants us all to win the race! To make it back to him! That even if the plan is right, that at times we might have to face the hard moments and expect the worst! In the end, its all for us. We are here to be tested, to be tried and to run the race! I know that as we rely on the Savior and we remember that the greatest gift is Eternal Life...We can do HARD things!