What are you running from?

              ….from a difficult choice ahead of you?…from words you know need to be spoken but are difficult?…from forgiveness of a friend or family member?…from laying down your pride to say I made a mistake?…from a calling that has been placed on your heart but you are afraid to voice it to anyone or follow?…from a memory or situation that is too  painful to think about?…from the path less traveled, away from what the world smiles upon, and friends highfive you for?…. from realizing that you were wrong and taking the time to sit down with that person and apologize?…from the fear that others will not approve?… from standing up for what is right, afraid of what may happen if you do?….

 

…i am a runner…grab my running shoes, workout clothes, and put those i-pod headphones in and i am in another world…..quickly running away from my day, any problems in it, and mentally taking a break! …While i am running i am in another world and i escape….

                                                                              

 

Lately, I have realized I “run” from more then just the daily stress i encounter, but lately i feel like i am running from many things in my life, or initially trying to anyway….Many may know, many may not, but i changed which world race mission trip I was going on because of fear. The Lord had always called me to the July WR but during my final interview they let me know at that time they were not revealing any of the countries we would be going to. I said I needed time to think about this… instead fear surrounded me and i feared, what will people think? who will support me? people will think i am nuts going on a year long mission trip when i don’t know the countries yet, will people think it’s a joke? I feared man, feared what people would say or think about me. I told them I would be switching to the June WR, one that i would know the countries ahead of time, I felt safer, and that it would be accepted by people. That lasted about 5 weeks (with no peace in the choice) until the Lord spoke very clearly and said you fear me or you fear people, you need to choose….

         “Fear of man will become a snare, but those who trust in the Lord will be kept safe” Prov. 29:25

 

Then I started a job 3 weeks ago and wanted to run away from that my first week, thinking there is no way I can handle this (lol people joke with me because it is actually only part-time 🙂 I can’t handle having my own patients! I am too young and inexperienced for this! And the Lord said…

        “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand… Isaiah 41:10

 

Many know I have been studying for my Boards for Occupational Therapy for months now…a month ago I took my second practice test, after studying for over a month my score decreased significantly and i scored a 46%. I needed a 75% on my Boards to pass….When that score came up on the computer, I could not have stopped the tears if I tried. I fell onto my bed, curled up in a small ball, and bawled my eyes out. Feeling hopeless and having no idea where to go from there I cried out to the Lord, what do I do??? I take the BOARDS in one week and I am failing….And the Lord said, you get up, you keep going, you persevere, you take the next step forward, you push on, you give these fears to me…

                      “I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” Isaiah 46:4

 

God tells us to come to him when we are weary and burdened and he will give us rest, I can honestly say I have never felt the Lord literally lifting me up as he has been these last couple months and carrying my burdens for me. Lots more happened these last couple months that I can’t list out everything b/c everyone would stop reading it would be so long! 🙂 There was no way I could have done it on my own. And although I am happy the Boards are over, I am getting used to my new job, and I feel complete peace with the July WR, and many other issues, I actually in a way miss it all because it was one of the most precious times I have ever been through with the Lord. 

 

Our reaction many times when things in life a put before us or thrown at us is to run from them. What I have experienced these last few months is if you only stay, the Lord will fight for you and protect you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze…The Lord put it on my heart to share some rough times I have been going through to encourage you all in your lives right now to hold onto Jesus and his promises. And if you give him a chance, if you give your burdens and fears he will fight hard for you and carry you, it is amazing. Not sure who exactly this was for, but know I am praying for you and would love to hear from you!