"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves." -Thomas Edison
I’m about to do something I never believed possible in 4 days. I can no longer tell people that my dad and I are doing a marathon in a few months or several weeks. Nope. It’s this weekend and I can’t believe it. I’ve been so blessed to have such supportive friends throughout these 15 weeks, asking me how my training is going or encouraging me. Several of them have asked me if I’m scared. Honestly, not yet. Once we get to Des Moines though, it will hit me. I've always struggled with self-confidence in anything I do, and I’m trying really hard to expect that God can do the unexpected.
Throughout my training, I’ve asked myself what my motivations are for doing this race. One of them is my dad. He ran 23 miles once, but an injury forced him to stop, and he never finished. I think it haunts him at times. He was so close. And I just really want to see him finish it. Training with my dad has been a really special experience for me, and I know I will look back fondly and treasure our time together. Another reason is for a close family friend, Joey. He died a year ago this month from brain cancer. He’d often ask us about our running events, and he always thought it was neat that my dad and I ran together. I’m also doing this because running a marathon is on my bucket list, and who doesn't like crossing things off of their list?
But the real reason I want to do this is to feel God in a way that I never have before. I want to feel what it’s like to be so physically drained that I have absolutely nothing left. And the only thing I can do to get me to the finish line is to call on the Lord and trust that He’ll bring me through when I don’t think I can handle anymore. I so often put God in a box and underestimate how big and strong he really is. If I can just get a glimpse of what it’s like to give all that I have left in me to Him, then maybe I can learn to rely on Him in other aspects of my life. And the next time I feel like something is impossible, I can call on this experience and remember his faithfulness. I want to feel what it’s like to seek Him and to have Him meet me exactly where I am-whether I’m struggling, waiting, or rejoicing.
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13
I pray that you try to give your worries, your fears, your failures, your dreams- all of you- to Him. It is so much easier said than done and it will take effort, but I encourage you to give it a try. And I hope that by trusting Him, He’ll bring you through whatever you’re going through too.
