So I have been running. To be clear, I am not a runner. I am a wannabe. I am running to challenge myself because it doesn’t come easy. At all. And I don’t love to run, but I want to. I’m in the beginning stages of a training plan and I’m not sure if this will ever change, but when I first start out my run, I want to quit. Badly. I am on my second week of a run challenge and though I am limited in my abilities and it’s getting tougher every day, up until today, I hadn’t faced anything other than my own mental defeats to make me want to quit.
Can I set the stage? I am a morning person so I am in a great mood when I get up. I am also a planner. So I have a plan for my day and I look forward to every morning. I sip coffee and study God’s word. I journal my thoughts and check in with my online study group. I grab my clothes that were laid out the night before and check my running plan for the day. Though I don’t think or feel like it’s possible to do what the running plans calls for today, I pray quietly, “Apart from you Lord, I can do nothing.” I lace up my shoes and head out the door.
As I started my run/walk I was admiring the clouds. The sun was shining behind them and they were glowing in a variety of beautiful colors. As I ran, I couldn’t help but smile. It was quiet and peaceful. I had been out about fifteen minutes or so and I made my way to a different part of town. As my direction turned, so did those beautiful clouds. Off in the distance I could see rain clouds. And it was the way home. I thought for a split second I could just keep running in the same direction as those pretty clouds, you know, run away from the rain? Away from the inevitable. Because who wants to run into a storm that they can see coming?
Deciding to face it or flee it.
I began to feel rain drops. I began to talk to myself. (Hoping you all talk to yourself too. Or am I alone here?) It went something like this:
Ok, self. We are fleeing this. It’s cold and you don’t want to be wet too. We are just going to run around the rain. How you ask? I don’t know; just keep swimming just keep swimming, right? Just run away from the rain. How do you suppose you are going to run for however long it takes to not have to run in the rain? You are limited in your abilities.
Wait, what? You are so smart, self. You are right. That cannot be the solution. I can’t run that far or long. And I don’t even know how long that would be. Even if I could run like Forrest Gump, is it even possible to run away from the rain? No, not forever. Even Forrest ran in the rain. OK, self we are facing this.
And isn't that so true in the spiritual storms we face? Whether we see it coming or it comes out of nowhere, initially we would rather run away. Even though we know we are not capable to endure running away we entertain the idea. But we can’t run forever. Because we are limited. Rain will come. Storms will come. And though we do not want to have to face some inevitable things that come our way, grace is always there. It finds us wherever we are. Even while running on a chilly, wet winter morning. And isn't it such grace what God does allow us to see coming? What we have to face? I am just amazed at how he reveals truths to us in His Word. Amazed at His promise for those that wait; those that trust Him. And there are no limits to His amazing grace. Our limitless God alone enables us to face anything that comes our way.
So I accepted that I was going to have to run into it to get home. It was cold. It was wet. It was uncomfortable. I was soaked. But I made it. As I sat down and began to dry off, the room began to get brighter and I began to feel warmth of the sun. I moved the curtain to get a better look. And there was the sun shining brightly again. No rain.
The rain . . . the dark clouds . . . the uncomfortable . . .Yeah, it didn’t last forever either. And neither will whatever you face today. God promises to give us strength and grace for today. It’s limitless. All you have to do it accept it.
Can I set the stage? I am a morning person so I am in a great mood when I get up. I am also a planner. So I have a plan for my day and I look forward to every morning. I sip coffee and study God’s word. I journal my thoughts and check in with my online study group. I grab my clothes that were laid out the night before and check my running plan for the day. Though I don’t think or feel like it’s possible to do what the running plans calls for today, I pray quietly, “Apart from you Lord, I can do nothing.” I lace up my shoes and head out the door.
As I started my run/walk I was admiring the clouds. The sun was shining behind them and they were glowing in a variety of beautiful colors. As I ran, I couldn’t help but smile. It was quiet and peaceful. I had been out about fifteen minutes or so and I made my way to a different part of town. As my direction turned, so did those beautiful clouds. Off in the distance I could see rain clouds. And it was the way home. I thought for a split second I could just keep running in the same direction as those pretty clouds, you know, run away from the rain? Away from the inevitable. Because who wants to run into a storm that they can see coming?
Deciding to face it or flee it.
I began to feel rain drops. I began to talk to myself. (Hoping you all talk to yourself too. Or am I alone here?) It went something like this:
Ok, self. We are fleeing this. It’s cold and you don’t want to be wet too. We are just going to run around the rain. How you ask? I don’t know; just keep swimming just keep swimming, right? Just run away from the rain. How do you suppose you are going to run for however long it takes to not have to run in the rain? You are limited in your abilities.
Wait, what? You are so smart, self. You are right. That cannot be the solution. I can’t run that far or long. And I don’t even know how long that would be. Even if I could run like Forrest Gump, is it even possible to run away from the rain? No, not forever. Even Forrest ran in the rain. OK, self we are facing this.
And isn't that so true in the spiritual storms we face? Whether we see it coming or it comes out of nowhere, initially we would rather run away. Even though we know we are not capable to endure running away we entertain the idea. But we can’t run forever. Because we are limited. Rain will come. Storms will come. And though we do not want to have to face some inevitable things that come our way, grace is always there. It finds us wherever we are. Even while running on a chilly, wet winter morning. And isn't it such grace what God does allow us to see coming? What we have to face? I am just amazed at how he reveals truths to us in His Word. Amazed at His promise for those that wait; those that trust Him. And there are no limits to His amazing grace. Our limitless God alone enables us to face anything that comes our way.
So I accepted that I was going to have to run into it to get home. It was cold. It was wet. It was uncomfortable. I was soaked. But I made it. As I sat down and began to dry off, the room began to get brighter and I began to feel warmth of the sun. I moved the curtain to get a better look. And there was the sun shining brightly again. No rain.
The rain . . . the dark clouds . . . the uncomfortable . . .Yeah, it didn’t last forever either. And neither will whatever you face today. God promises to give us strength and grace for today. It’s limitless. All you have to do it accept it.