I started running when I was a sophomore in high school. My best friends were on the cross-country team, and I joined to spend more time with them. What started as a way to see my friends after school has proven to be my most enduring hobby. I’ve been a runner since I was 16 years old. Of course, my time and capacity have fluctuated over the years. Nowadays, I’m lucky to get 30 minutes for a run. I do it for the alone time and for a mental reset. Nobody can ask me for a snack if I’m halfway down the road. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, my habit of running has taught me some spiritual lessons as well. So I thought I’d share them with you in a few blogs. If you like to run, you might try to incorporate these ideas into your exercise. Even if you don’t, like you’ll read in a minute, these thoughts will translate to daily life, whether you’re running or not.
I ran marathons about a decade ago. My training plan included a weekly long run to increase endurance. When I started working toward my first race, I’d get more and more discouraged every week as the long runs got longer. I’d feel so overwhelmed by the distance, and wonder how I’d ever get through it. So I started praying for God’s help at the start of every mile. I wouldn’t let myself think about the many miles ahead. Instead, I asked God to come with me, and help me in the mile I was in.
“God thank you for this day, and the chance to move my body. Please run with me, and be present in mile one.”
“God, thank you for mile one. Please stay with me, and encourage me in mile two.”
“Thank you for your faithfulness to me. Please show your faithfulness again here in mile three.”
And so on, and so on. For every mile.
Some miles were hard. Sometimes I’d get in a mental slump where I’d be bored or frustrated. But that didn’t have to mean the next mile would be hard. The scenery would change, a good song would pop up on my playlist, or I’d get a second wind. The whole run didn’t need to be daunting if I just ran the mile I was in. I couldn’t change the miles I’d already run. And I couldn’t tackle the miles I hadn’t gotten to yet. All I could do was ask God to meet me exactly where I was, and be present with me in the mile I was in.
Maybe the same is true for you today. Maybe your schedule is filled with appointments, meetings, chores, and tough conversations. Maybe you’re staring down your to-do list, totally overwhelmed, and wondering how you’ll make it through the day. Ask God to reveal His presence to you right now, in this moment, in this task. Don’t worry about everything coming up later. Just ask God to make you aware of His presence right now, and be present to Him in this task. And then when you move on to the next one, ask him to meet you there, too.
Sometimes the big picture is too overwhelming. God hems you in behind and before. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He was with you before you opened your eyes this morning, and He’ll be there when you’ve finished your work for the day. But He delights to be present with you in every moment; to encourage you with His love and remind you of His faithfulness even in – especially in – the ordinary, mundane moments of life.
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34
