Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the things you “should” be doing as a disciple of Christ? Meaningful scripture study that changes hearts, family home evenings that build testimonies, ministering that truly lifts others, regular temple worship that deepens our covenants, magnified callings that bless lives—we want to do it all, and do it all well. These righteous desires can sometimes feel like more than we can possibly achieve. In these moments, I find comfort in one of King Benjamin’s often-overlooked teachings: “It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27).
What strikes me most about this verse is its context. King Benjamin had just delivered one of the most powerful sermons in scripture, teaching his people about their nothingness before God, the miracle of the Atonement, and their duty to serve others. The people were spiritually overwhelmed, having just experienced a mighty change of heart (Mosiah 4:1-2). It was in this moment of intense spiritual commitment that Benjamin offered this crucial counsel about pacing.
The second half of the verse is equally important: “It is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize.” As Elder David A. Bednar has taught, the quest for balance in discipleship isn’t about achieving a perfect equilibrium between all our responsibilities. Sometimes being a good disciple means saying “not right now” to good things so we can give our best to what matters most in this season.
This understanding transforms how we view our spiritual progress. Rather than seeing discipleship as a sprint, we can see it as a divine endurance event where steady, sustainable progress matters more than bursts of intense activity followed by exhaustion.
I testify that God is more interested in our direction than our speed. He cares more about our steady devotion than our sporadic sprints. Like a divine endurance race, discipleship isn’t about rushing to exhaustion—it’s about maintaining a sustainable pace that allows us to “win the prize” through consistent, faithful effort. As we trust His timing and pace ourselves according to our strength, we’ll find that we can progress much further than if we tried to run beyond our capacity. This is the path to true discipleship—one that can last not just for a season, but for a lifetime and beyond.
Elder Linder 