Running for My Life

I have always been a pretty active person. I loved being outside as a kid, was an athletic teen, and since college, I have been involved in all different types of sports: aerobics, kickboxing, spin, mini-triathlons, and more. I love it. Besides the physical exercise, I love the emotional release. It clears my mind and provides a time for me to see what God made my body to do.

Despite the fact that I suffer from scoliosis (a curvature of the spine), I have somehow managed to power through exercise and sports. The spinal curve has always been there, but I never let it hinder me until I realized how progressive a curve I had. As a teenager it was around 14%, but it progressed quickly after having two children (at least I think it did).

Even up until my second child’s birth, I was teaching spin and remaining physically active. After Garrett was born, however, I finally went to a doctor to have my back x-rayed to see just how bad it had gotten. Since my last x-ray as a teen, the curvature had grown to nearly 40%! The doctor said that at this point, they typically started talking with their patients about back surgery.

The only reason I am giving you this detail is to give you an idea of my knowledge, what I actually knew for a fact about my back. You see, since my last child, my exercise and physical fitness backed off quite a bit. Always touting the excuse that I had a “bad back” and my body just couldn’t handle it, I offered that to anyone I saw who was running or doing something I used to do. I made lots of excuses and used my words to make me feel better. I let this new knowledge put up a barrier to something I once loved.

Now, you have to know that I didn’t even try to run. I just said I couldn’t.

I didn’t ask God, or put Him in this part of the equation at all. I figured my time for physical activity was over, and I was going to have to find some other way to get that “release.”

Words are powerful.

So powerful, that God created the world with them.

So powerful, that Jesus healed with them.

And me? I was using them to put myself into a box. I used them to create a barrier. And I put that barrier up; God didn’t. I did it all by myself. If you remember my post about “An Overloaded Wagon,” I admit that I often take on burdens I am not called to bear.

It is funny how that happens. I didn’t even realize I was doing it. But one day I decided to trust God. Honestly, I was terrified He would not answer or worse, that He would say, “No.” I thanked Him for being healthy, and I told Him what I wanted (to run again). I also asked for forgiveness for not trusting Him, and then I waited.

Finally, one morning during my quiet time, I drummed up the courage to ask God to heal my body so I could begin to run again. I love to run. There is such a freedom in feeling the wind on my face–knowing that God created all the parts of my body to work together to propel me forward. (One of my favorite names of God is Elohim: Strong Creator.)

So, I went out to walk one morning, and in an effort to get across the street more quickly (so I wouldn’t get hit by a car!), I ran across.

I didn’t stop.

I kept running until I got home.

By the time I got home I had tears running down my face. I can’t tell you how happy I was. For me, that was an answer to prayer. I had not only enjoyed the run, but I felt so exhilarated afterwards. All I could think of was this Scripture from Hebrews 12:1:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…

My sin was unbelief. My sin was not trusting that God can do anything. My sin was thinking God didn’t care enough to heal my body to do what I longed to do.

This started my goal of running 10 miles per week. And guess what? I am running my first race with my husband and my sisters on Thanksgiving morning! I haven’t run a race since before I had kids, over seven years ago.

Do you know what I learned from this experience?

I learned that words are powerful.

I learned that God is so good.

I learned that God answers prayers.

Now, I am not saying I don’t have some back pain, but if I stretch well, train consistently, and trust in the Lord and his Goodness I am confident in His blessings for me.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Remember, it is our Christ, our Savior who strengthens us. He is where we draw our power and faith. Our strength does not come from ourselves, but from Him who saved us.

I am Running for my Life. I am running for THE life that Christ died so that I could have. Are you?

What words have you spoken lately that put you in a box? What have you said that puts you on a path of your own making and not the abundance that God wants for you? I would love to hear your stories and struggles.

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