Still Running
"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up." Galatians 6:9
"Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5b).
After taking two days off for rain, it was back to the running today. And, I finally made it 2 miles today! Cue the Rocky clip . . .
Nevermind the fact that I looked like I had been run over by a Mack truck when I was done. It was a joyful Mack-truck-runover look (I'm running up the stairs right now in celebration). Two cookies' worth of calories burned!
Truth be told, I felt like giving up after Monday night's run when I only made it 1.33 miles, and it was a relatively cool night--for Texas in May. I felt like Elijah when Jezebel was after him and chased him into the wilderness. In 1 Kings 19:4, he says, "Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.'”
Elijah fell asleep after this prayer, and when he woke up, an angel had brought him hot bread and a jar of water! What a deal!
Think about it for a minute. How many times has God done that for you? How many times have you been discouraged, ready to give up, throw in the towel, when God brought just the right encouragement at just the right time--just for you?
It's always darkest before the dawn.
Peter puts it so beautifully when talking about experiencing the Transfiguration of Jesus with James and John. In 2 Peter 1:19 he says, "Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts." Remember that before the Transfiguration took place, the disciples were quite discouraged because Jesus had just told them that He was going to die (Matthew 16).
If you're celebrating today, I celebrate with you. If you're discouraged today, remember that God sees you. He is near to the broken-hearted, and rescues those whose spirits are crushed (Psalm 34:18). And, I hurt with you.
And sometimes, joy comes in the afternoon.
Goodnight Runners.
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