My big 5K race is coming up quick, it's only FIVE days away! I'm panicking about it now because my run today was not what I expected. A couple of days ago I went out for my walk/jog run of 3 miles and I felt great. My body parts were all in a great sync. I ran the first mile in 10 minutes; I was stoked! I finished my route within my goal time. It was an overall great experience. I felt very prepared for this big 5K race. Then, today I went out again. Unfortunately, I did not have the same feeling of running peace I had felt previously. I got a huge cramp in my side, my calves were screaming at me, my breathing was off and my wardrobe was not cooperating! It was a bad run! I managed to complete my run within my goal time; however, overall I was not at peace with myself.
Then the notion hit me: Isn't our Christian life just like that? We have great moments in our journey with God. Our day is going superbly well and we can just sing a happy little tune while going along our merry way. We have that wonderful peace! Or we could be experiencing a "bad run". Things are not moving along so merrily. We don't have that peace we so desire.
I can recall times in my journey where this applied. I was not walking in the footsteps laid out by my Savior. I did not have peace in my life. I can happily report that I did align my steps correctly and that has made all the difference. The prophet Isaiah states this in 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." What a great reminder for us when we are having those "bad runs". In John 16:33 Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." When (not if) I am going through trials, then I know I need to keep my focus on Jesus and He will give me peace. He will give me my "good run" in life's journey!
