Running

Running with God, Running from God, Running to God...

Which way are you running your race?

Some analogy's within the jog, yet again. As a writer you may relate to that feeling when the words are just so overwhelming they feel as if you don't get them down fast enough they may bubble over in you. That is how much I felt God speaking to my heart through the time I spent running. It was like His still small voice whispered in every heavy breath I took.

Often times in our burdensome "runs" of life we look too far ahead and become clouded in our vision. We feel incapable of finishing "the race". But, when we narrow our vision and focus on the attainable steps laid out in front of us we can reach the farther goal, we can finish with endurance, perseverance and strength.

When we look at the "path laid out in front of us" sometimes we see only sun beaten gravel. We see no relief, no break from the sun, no glimmer of hope, no God to reach to. In the storms of life the rain can beat down so heavily and the wind can so fiercely push us where it may that we can tend to feel unable to overcome. We succumb to the trial. God is nowhere to be found. We cannot feel Him. We certainly cannot see Him (with the sweat from our brow clouding our vision) in the bitter heartache, in the injustice, in the betrayel, in the loss, in the storm...so He must have forsaken us. He must not be who He says He is. Right? NO, He is there.

Sometimes what we fail to realize though is that the "path laid out in front of us" is actually NOT the path He has laid out for us, but rather the path that we have taken as a result of the storm, the circumstance, the pain we are in. We get "caught up" and we forget that we must make the choice. The choice is to take that one step off the "path" to actually get back on the true "path".

Psalm 71:20
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

On my jog today I saw a golfball aside the road, "off the path". I realized that until I actually "touched and felt" that golfball it was completely intangible, it was almost like it did not exist. I couldn't "feel" it and I scarcely could "see" it through my sweat laden brow. But when I stooped down, slowed my pace and took that uneasy step just "off the path" I realized, wiping the sweat from clouding my vision, it was really a golfball. I know this sounds extremely silly. But I really felt God nudging me through this and saying to me, "Abi, sometimes you must take that step of faith and step outside of your circumstance, outside of your pain, outside of your hurt, your questions, your loneliness, your wondering AND YOU must take the step to meet ME. I am here, waiting. Waiting for you to seek ME, to want ME. My arms are outstretched to you and I want you! I love you! Don't remain stuck in your circumstances. Don't be stubborn and think you 'know the path'. I know the path and I do not want ill for you. I do not want pain and toil and struggle and burden for you. Come to me. Even if you have to wipe the sweat from your brow to see me clearly, SEE ME! I AM here! Even if you must slow your pace, leave the path you feel was laid out for you to seek Me in peace on the true path I have for you. You will feel me and know me and see me when you step out in faith."

Even if we must slow our pace during the storms and through the heat and when the sun is beating us down and when the hill seems ever heigtening and we feel we can't go on, we must keep on! We must run with diligence. He is not allowing us to see trials and bitter circumstances to weigh us down, but rather to build us up and strengthen us for the endurance it will take to truly run with perseverance the course laid out in front of us. He is faithful and patient,

 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

We grow tired and weary. We wonder, we question...when, why, how.

Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Yet, He does not weary or tire. He stands and patiently waits for us to trust Him. To wipe the sweat from our brow. To step, even if while in pain, outside of our circumtance and in faith, trust that He did not design us to live in pain, wandering and hurt. He wants us to trust His love. Let's run with perseverance!
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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,