Day 30: Finish Strong With Purpose

Closing Challenge—Commit to Being an Upside-Down Leader for Life

No matter the sport, I remember our coaches running us into the dirt! At times, I wondered if they just took pleasure in making us miserable. What was even more shocking? After two-plus hours of running, they’d finish practice with fundamentals, like shooting free throws or a simple layup drill. And of course, we had to run for every missed shot.

I used to think: “Why would they do such an evil thing?!”

Eventually, it made sense.

How often have we seen a team rally from behind, close the gap, and then run out of energy at the finish? Or a sprinter explodes out of the blocks with incredible form, only to fade just before the finish line? Those losses aren’t always about skill or discipline. Often, they’re the result of a lack of endurance.

That’s why our coaches pushed us. They taught us a crucial truth: You must build endurance to finish strong with purpose, and endurance requires sacrifice.

Biblical Endurance

“[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment…”

-Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

“[11] The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle...It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.”

-Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NLT)

How to Finish Strong

1. Don’t stop at obstacles.

View obstacles as opportunities to grow. Life is just like one of those obstacle courses you see on TV—or maybe you’ve even run one. Each barrier you overcome makes you stronger and moves you closer to your finish line. Embrace the obstacle course of your journey.

2. Mentally rehearse adversity.

Run “scenario-based training” in your mind. Imagine how you would respond to challenging situations. You're not doing this to obsess or lose sleep, just to think through “What if?” scenarios with purpose. "What if?" thinking can build emotional intelligence, flexibility, and resilience. You’ll need those traits when the going gets tough.

3. Don’t stop believing.

Whether you're a small town girl, a city boy, or anything in between, believe in yourself, your team, your family, and above all, your God!

“[4] Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me...[5] You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies... [6] Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…”

-Psalm 23:4-6 (NLT)

The Good Shepherd is always near, protecting, providing, and anointing you to fulfill His mission.

Foundational Truth

Leadership demands long days, sleepless nights, lonely moments, betrayal, and rejection. Jesus—the greatest leader—endured all of that and more.
What if He had given up?
What if, in Gethsemane, He let discouragement paralyze Him?
What if He had hidden from the cross?

He didn’t.

Instead, He rewrote the rules of leadership. Jesus took the lowest posture, washed feet, welcomed the marginalized, and offered Himself as a sacrifice. He revolutionized what it means to lead and redefined our relationship with God.

Jesus was an upside-down leader: One who embraced countercultural, counterintuitive principles to leave a lasting legacy. You have that same opportunity, starting now.

Final Challenge:

Will you live out what you’ve learned?
Will you make the sacrifice?
Will you lead well, love well, and finish strong?

Will you be an upside-down leader like Jesus?