I believe we will all face at least one moment in our lives when we find ourselves face to face with something that forever alters the course of our lives.  There is the “before” us and the “after” us.  Sometimes these are huge, sometimes they are just a minor adjustment.  Sometimes they are joyous and sometimes they tear us down to our very core.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

On January 26th 2012, my life was forever changed, for a second time. (Read My Story to learn more.) The ways have become numerous but one of the most surprising to me has been in my discovery of my love of running, which started as an effort to combat the side effects of the medication that is supposed to be making me well.  (Weight gain is one of the most obvious side effects of prednisone but did you also know that it will turn the muscle in your hips, upper arms, and base of your neck into fat? The doctor continues expounding on the lesser know side effects the more we “visit.”) In light of this, on March 3rd 2012 I have my first documented “run” which was more like a walk, 2.84 miles in 54 minutes. I have come a long way in the last 15 months, 648.3 miles to be exact.  I could have run from Indianapolis to Philadelphia!   My farthest run was 11 miles in 1 hour and 46 min, my fastest mile, 6 min 38 sec.  In all, 184 runs.

So, why am I sharing this?  First of all, anyone who knew me at all “before” knew that I HATED running.  I can’t stress that enough.  There was NOTHING about it that I liked even a little bit. So what changed? Where has this new insanity come from?  My running partner…God.  My running has become a time of worship for me, a time of prayerful crying out to God, a time of reflection, learning, and most importantly a quiet time of listening for God’s still small voice.    Quite simply put, the faster my feet, the quieter my mind becomes.  When I run, I become still.

We can’t escape from pain in this world; whether that’s going through hard seasons personally or watching our loved ones do the same. Here’s what I love though…even in my darkest and most disturbing moments, as real and as painful as they might be, I stand on an even greater reality. It’s the truth of God who never lets go and never loses control. The One who never changes. The One who is always good and merciful, always strong and mighty to save. The One who renews my strength and guides me along right paths.  Standing on the unshakeable truth of our God, I can make it through the storms of life.

Will you join me in this journey to stillness in Christ no matter how the storms may rage around us?