<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a runner, I have four formidable enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A headwind kicks my butt. There are days I get dressed for a run only to walk outside, feel a breeze and turn around to head straight for the treadmill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hills, although I\u2019m more determined to conquer them, also leave me wiped out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heat is my nemesis and that\u2019s no small thing when you live in Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And early morning is my least favorite time of day to lace up my Brooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Half way into my run this morning, I realized I was facing all four minions at one time and I just about called someone to pick me up \u2013 until the song changed and I realized God was speaking. He does that often when I\u2019m working out. I\u2019ve never figured out if it\u2019s because I\u2019m exhausted and my defenses are down or if it\u2019s because I\u2019m focused and undistracted. Regardless, I was done and he had something for me to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve had this conversation many times through the years so I guess I shouldn\u2019t have to be reminded but\u2026ya know. This morning I was frustrated and wanted to push really hard and prove something to myself. I wasn\u2019t in the mood for a healthy and low stress walk or jog. This run was about conquering something that may have been more emotional than physical. Little did I know, I would be faced with conquering that as well as all four of my running enemies at one time. Honestly, I couldn\u2019t do it. I couldn\u2019t conquer them quickly and I wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d conquer them at all. The truth is I just wanted to quit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus knows me so well. \u00a0He knows how stubborn and impatient I am. \u00a0He knows how hard I am on myself. \u00a0He even knows how scared I can be even when I don\u2019t realize it, but He has such a sweet way of giving me \u201cpictures\u201d that can explain more than words. \u00a0As I found myself gasping for air and about to quit, He seemed to say, \u201d Sometimes this is life.\u00a0 I know it seems like too much but just keep moving. \u00a0 We can take it slow. \u00a0We can take breaks. Just don\u2019t quit. \u00a0Remember, I rule the wind and the sun. \u00a0I can make the hills into plains. \u00a0I can turn your mourning into dancing. \u00a0 Keep your eyes on me. \u00a0Look right at me\u2026.Sing right to me. \u00a0I\u2019m your hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Funny thing is,\u00a0 I made it home. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t my best time ever but it wasn\u2019t my worst. And I didn\u2019t quit. \u00a0How little I think I can handle sometimes. \u00a0If I could only remember that God is on my side and that Jesus is walking with me , maybe I wouldn\u2019t be so afraid of the pain, hills, wind, sun and exhaustion. \u00a0His love is amazing, his strength is never ending, his grace overwhelms me and I think I\u2019ll follow him anywhere\u2026 it just may be at a slower pace on some days.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As a runner, I have four formidable enemies. A headwind kicks my butt. There are days I get dressed for a run only to walk outside, feel a breeze and turn around to head straight for the treadmill. Hills, although I\u2019m more determined to conquer them, also leave me wiped out. Heat is my nemesis and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,7],"tags":[673,141,167,182,691,692,274,689,421,690,478,547,583,693,623],"class_list":["post-1617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith","category-seasons","tag-companionship","tag-difficulties","tag-encouragement","tag-faith","tag-forward","tag-help","tag-hope","tag-keep-going","tag-perseverance","tag-quitting","tag-running","tag-strength","tag-tired","tag-uphill","tag-wind"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1617"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1617\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}