Tag: #running

Perseverance to Make it Home

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

I could excel on the hills when I ran races, picking up my pace. This burst of energy allowed me to catch up with others who slowed or stopped, which may have helped me place somewhere near the top in a few of them. I dug in my heels and pushed on when the race was more difficult.  That was my strength. A message was forming in my head as I reflected on this while running the other morning. When the path before us gets tough, we need to persevere and press on. That may be a theme, as I have overcome many obstacles.

This verse came to mind, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1, ESV, Emphasis added).

It was a good day. I felt it in my bones that I would run the whole route without stopping. Over halfway there – just as I felt confident – I stepped on a rock, turned my ankle, and hit the pavement; my knee and hand getting the brunt of the road rash. Thankfully, not breaking any bones.

Was this part of the message? I believe so. Just as we begin to be confident in our walk with God, the enemy throws a stumbling block in our path to trip us up. With that in mind, I got up, kicked the rock off the road, did a brief mental scan of my injuries, and kept running all the way home.

When we know God is with us and hold to the straight and narrow path, “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, emphasis added), we can kick Satan out of the way and keep running, all the way home, to one day see Jesus where He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

Some messages are more painful than others, but God can use all of them for His good and glory. My life is full of painful messages, sharing them can help others, making it worth it.

To God be the Glory, forever and ever. Amen.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28, emphasis added).

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt. 7:14, emphasis added).

Wrestling with God

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

After a long, brutal winter that didn’t allow for much running, I am finally happy to be back out there as the weather begins to change. Still, it doesn’t come without challenges, but it’s not my first experience in building up again. I know how to do it, but that’s not the challenging part; it’s doing it. It requires diligence, consistency, and intentional steps toward my goal. It also requires giving myself grace on difficult days.

Granted, in the beginning, it’s mostly walking, but the more consistent I am, the more I know I will eventually be able to rerun the whole route. As I mentioned in my blog, Childlike Wonder, last week, our relationship with God requires the same diligence, consistency, and intentional steps toward Him to illuminate our path and draw us closer to Christ. Even if we have experienced closeness to God, these areas can have challenging seasons.

Struggles with others marked Jacob’s life. He stole his twin brother’s birthright and received his father’s blessing, which was meant for Esau (Gen. 25:31). Years later, he was fearful when he was to reencounter his brother. Jacob is confronted by an angel of God, whom he believes to be God Himself. Wrestling with him all night, the angel rendered Jacob’s hip out of joint – and his name was changed to Israel – which means “he strives with God.” – Jacob realized the importance of God’s blessing and was the climax of a lifetime of battles with others (Gen. 25:22).

Jacob was a new man. When he met Esau, his attitude had changed, and he bowed down to him. Esau, like God, showed Jacob unmerited favor and embraced him. Jacob realized his weakness before God, and it taught him the value of continued prayer from one who is helpless. He emerged willing to let his life fall into God’s control (Brand, 849).

God’s blessing was upon Jacob, but He did not choose him because of what he was—He chose Jacob because of what he could become (Gen. 32:22-32; Hosea 12:3-4, ESV).

How often do we wrestle with God and fail to let Him lead our lives? Then, we wonder why we are fearful, worried, or doubting ourselves. These are real emotions, but they stem from the devil, who wants to emphasize our inabilities over faith and trusting God to help us become who He created us to be. Sometimes, our anxious striving keeps us from feeling God’s presence if we allow it to linger. Resting in the presence of God and whispering Jesus’ name helps us refocus.

Like running, my quiet time with God is intentionally dedicated to being still before Him and asking Him what He wants for my life. God gives me grace on days when my diligence is more challenged. But the more consistent we are in putting the devil behind us and allowing God to lead without wrestling with Him, the more blessed we are – not because of who we are – but because of who we can become with God’s help.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Ps. 46:1-2, emphasis added).