Run

The last few weeks I’ve felt like I’m in a rut, hitting a wall. The bustle, sugar, and emotion from the holiday season has subsided, and the result has been exhaustion and burnout. As I’ve struggled day to day the message, I keep hearing over and over is, “Don’t stop now. Dig in. Persevere.”

A few weeks ago, I bought myself some new running shoes. Before kids, running was my exercise of choice. It was my happy place. I’ve only run a handful of times in the eight years since having my first child, but I felt like this year I needed to pursue that old passion.

The past few years, I’ve been asking God for a word for the coming year. This year RUN keeps coming to me. In Hebrews 12: 1-3 it says, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

It’s funny, as I sat and started writing this post, I saw my running shoes sitting on the floor, and I realized why I was stirred to start running again. It’s an outward illustration of what He’s called us to do. So, as I lace up my shoes for each run, even on the days I don’t feel like it, when I’m tired, it’s rainy, and the forecast doesn’t look good, I’m going to RUN, because that’s what he’s called us to.

It’s so easy when we get that first side stitch, or we start to get tired, that we decide, “Well, I’m just going to walk this leg.” But I feel this urgency in my spirit that we can’t walk now. He’s asking us to run.

I think walking for Christians can start to look like apathy. It’s settling for comfortable. Stand guard warriors. Keep pushing forward. We can’t become apathetic because he’s called us to run, and time is short.

Running our race isn’t always easy. There have been days I’ve felt like I’m in a fire, being burnt alive, and I’ve questioned why? All I can hear is, “Child, I’m making beauty from these ashes.” Fire isn’t always about destruction, sometimes its purpose is refinement.

My boys have been enthralled with David and Goliath the last few months. We’ve “killed” a lot of Philistines at our house! I’ve asked them how David defeated Goliath? I’ve had to remind them it wasn’t just with a few stones and a slingshot, or out of his own strength and bravery, but it was because God was with him! In this simple truth God’s spoken to my heart. How many times do we try to do it in our own strength?

Whatever your “Goliath” may look like, family dysfunction, childhood trauma, a broken marriage, infertility, a health issue, addiction, caring for young children or an elderly parent, or both, a prodigal child… You are not alone. He’s with you. Whatever he’s called you to, or through, he’s always faithful. He’s always true, always good, and he will never leave you. He can and will use it for his glory.

Keep running your race friend. He’s called you by name, and he has purpose for your life. You have a testimony. I have written down in my sermon notes, “the way out is sometimes the way in. You aren’t finished yet!”

Lamb (Live from the Loft)

Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

James 5:10-11 “Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”