Moments into Miles
After completing my work day two weeks ago, I told myself that after being absolutely sedentary, I’d hit the trails and run 2 miles.
So, after I got off, I did my usual warm-up of frantically cleaning the house, as I do every day. Who wants to come back to a mess? And then I would get my run on!
I stuck out the first mile, and I wanted nothing more than to be hit by the school buses passing by. My goodness, am I out of shape! I thought I was going for some cardio, but instead, cardio was coming for me! Nonetheless, I have no one but myself to blame for being inconsistent the past few months.
My worship music was blaring in my ear, doing everything possible to encourage me. The song kept screaming, "I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER, I THOUGHT IT WAS DONE."
Oof. Same girl, same! But each time I checked my watch, I had only moved a meager few hundredths of a mile. When did miles become so long??
"BUT YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE LAST WORD, AND THE LAST WORD IS LOVE."
It made me realize that God knows our limits. God has a plan for us to surpass our own expectations. He knows we’re capable of so much more than we tell ourselves.
I’m not saying I began to sprint, but I slightly picked up my pace and spoke the words I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking into the wind that was pushing me up this incline: You can finish this run. You’re more than halfway there. Just keep moving. Come on!
The enemy, the ruler of pettiness, was probably rubbing his hands together at the thought of my demise.
The devil wants us to fail. He wants us to sit in disappointment and shame. He wants us to stay within what he makes us insecure about. He screams in our ears as we go on about our day. Because if we did triumph and gain confidence in being covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, we’d have the power to fulfill what God created us to do.
God does have the last word. He is so full of love for us that our failure is not as much a concern for Him as it is for us. He is not the God of subpar creations or flaws. I can just imagine Him cheering from the stands as if I were racing for my life! He sees our pain and frustrations but has healing and relief waiting for us.
Whatever your thing is in this season of life,
You’re not finished. You won’t stop here. Don’t let yourself become complacent with the thought of supposedly being “too far gone,” because God has the last word. God creates something out of nothing. As a local pastor wisely said, God makes beginnings out of what appear to be endings.
Jesus was our miraculous fresh start to eternal life with the Father of all fathers.
Whether it is literally or metaphorically, put on your running shoes. Plug in those headphones to block the lies of the enemy. Go out and do what you're striving for or what you believe God may be calling you to do at this moment. Who knows what He is strengthening you for? Where you are now is not where you’ll be forever.
If you're wondering, yes, I finished my 2 miles, and to my surprise, I completed it at a quicker pace! Since this first run, I have looked forward to each run. I am grateful for God finding me there to speak when I was about to succumb to temporary discomfort and weakness.
Step out and know that God will not send you into harm's way. He wants more for you, even if you don’t know how, when, or where to achieve it. Seek God and lean into His word. Regardless of the severity, your pain is significant to God and the story he has written you into.
Acts 27:25, "So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me."
Recent things I’m grateful for:
Ellie and Dash are settling down. For a second there, I thought I would have to run away from this household. They sit, take regular naps, potty outside (with a few exceptions; I’ll cut them some slack), and are as sweet as gremlins can be!
Miss Kitty makes our house liveable this season by eating every bug that even thinks about entering. I’ll take my wins however they present themselves.
90s shows: Freaks and Geeks is such a feel-good show. Why is there only one season?
Meaningful conversations. There is nothing I enjoy more than having substantial discussions with the people I love! I treasure helping people and the gift of purely using words to support, encourage, or heal.
Pure contentment. Life can be so beautiful when we allow it!
People who read these posts are kind enough to tell me what it means to them. I love this! Thank you for tagging along with me!
References
Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music. (2021). Before and After. Elevation Worship Records.
Myers, R., & Williams, A. B. (2020). She Reads Truth Bible (Ser. CSV). Holman Bible Publishers.
