Run, darling, run. Run the race I have set before you. Run setting your eyes on me. Run with me. Run with everything you have and when you feel you can go no more, run to me and rest.
Running and sports in general have become a metaphor of life for me. Growing up sports taught me many valuable life skills that I have been able to carry into all aspects of life. Sports have taught me the life skills of goal setting and time management combined with enjoyment, the development of a strong sense of morality, and the appreciation of diversity. Playing sports has taught me how to push a little harder when the going gets tough. That tough crisis point of pain, where you can quit and give up or keep pushing through to finish what you started. Sports have also taught me the importance of rest and recovery…. Rest? Who needs rest, right?
Not making it a priority like I should, rest is an aspect in my life that I tend to put on the back burner. Literally to the point where if I was on my deathbed I would probably keep doing what I was doing and push on to the next task ahead.
Six months ago I was at a point in my life where I pushed so hard and gave everything I had towards getting into Physician Assistant school, past relationships, my master’s program, working out etc, etc, the list can go on and on. I was at a point where I forgot the importance of rest. I was broken and exhausted; physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was frustrated at myself because rest is such an obvious thing to do when you’re exhausted but why could I not succumb to it. Sports taught me the importance of rest but why had I forgotten that?
Here is why… I was losing sight of God and losing sight of what He deems as success. When we try to do everything in our own strength and leave God out of the equation, we just get worn-out and frustrated. What I am having to learn is that when we lean on God, we actually enter into His rest and can enjoy our lives, no matter what our circumstances may be. God doesn’t intend for the rest to be rest from work but instead He wants us finding the rest in work. When I finally entered into His rest I rediscovered desires He had placed in my heart like the enjoyment I get from helping others. Resting in His presence is so refreshing and He has begun to re-reveal desires in my heart and has given me the encouragement and confidence to keep pushing through.
Run, darling, run is what I hear Him say. But this time go run and find JOY in all circumstances.
Cheers,
Kels
