Running is where I feel an openness to the goodness of God. Sometimes, my mind is quieter on my runs than while in prayer. Other than hearing myself breathe, I get to focus on whatever God is saying to me and whatever He wants me to know and think about.
“For me, it started as a way to see what my body was capable of, and I needed to make changes to survive,” (T) told me. “The moment I realized that it was healing me and helping me get through things was when I realized I could use it for more. (T) is the youngest daughter of our closest friends who live down the street. Her Dad shared some of her story with me and said she would love to see if it could be used in a devotional.
“So, I grew up in a very faith-based household. My sister and I are blessed to have lived that way. I’ve always believed, but as I’ve gotten older, I have had a lot of things happen in my life attacking me that have pulled me in the wrong direction. Life has taken a toll on me over the years.”
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
God invites people to come to Him, offering an invitation to receive spiritual conversation, nourishment, abundant life, and salvation. God’s word is a source of life, compared metaphorically to water and food. Isaiah tells us that God’s word will never fail, be ineffective, or come up empty. There is a certainty that whatever God has spoken will be fulfilled, no matter the circumstances or opposition. Whether in creation, judgment, salvation, or restoration, God’s word brings His intentions to fruition.
(T) continued, “I honestly feel if I wasn’t brought up as a believer, I may or may not be here.” It was incredibly sobering for me to hear this from a healthy, vibrant, and beautiful young person. “I see a lot of people in my life surrounding me that I know don’t believe, and I feel that their decisions are detrimental to me. I know I have someone else to lean on and that my story is not done. I know there’s a reason for all of this; there’s always a bigger picture, and I realize that at the end of the day, every step I get to take after what I’ve gone through, I can look back and know, Oh that’s why.”
As a believer, (T) has shown in her life that whatever God declares or promises will be accomplished even if it’s not always available when we want it or feel we need it. She knows His word will always produce its intended results, whether in the world or our hearts.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Luke 8:24-26
Jesus responds to His disciples’ doubts by rebuking the wind and the waves, demonstrating His complete authority over nature. It doesn’t always work this way, but He can bring an immediate calm to any event and to all the natural elements under His control. This Divine demonstration underscores that Jesus is more than a mere Rabbi, teacher, or Prophet—He is the Lord of all creation.
Showing pause and deep reflection, (T) said, “I’ve always wanted to be a mother. I’ve always wanted to be in this role of life that nurtures and has the ability to raise a child. When I got married, I thought it was going to be easy. It wasn’t, and year after year, after five miscarriages, it hasn’t happened.”
I could see some scars as she unfolded this for me, but all through her testimony, she was strong, resolute, and grounded. “I’m a stepmom, and maybe that’s my motherhood, maybe that’s my purpose, maybe that’s what I’m supposed to be doing, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that there’s an absolute reason for everything. I love her to death,” talking about her step-daughter. “She and I have the most amazing bond ever. She’s 12. She’s growing and becoming a young adult, and becoming her own person. I see a little bit of me, which is crazy to think because she’s not a little bit of me in any genetic way, but she is from two very different households. It’s humbling to know she’s watching everything I go through, even my struggles. Everything that I move towards, she’s watching.”
I first met (T) and her step-daughter (M) around Christmas at our friends’ house. (T) was the kind of upbeat, open-book, positive Mom any kid could ask for. As it turns out, (T)’s story runs much deeper than what’s on the surface. “This year, I was faced with some health issues. In January, I was the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life. Growing up, I was an elite athlete. It never crossed my mind that I had to watch what I was eating. When I was a kid, I worked out all the time so I could eat whatever I wanted.”
“A few years ago, my Dad went through a very scary moment where he ended up in the hospital, and that was terrifying because I live across the country and couldn’t be there. Getting that phone call from my mom was life-changing. That was when I went to the doctor. I’m only in my 30’s, and I was diagnosed as diabetic and with severe hypertension. My doctor looked at me and said, ‘Are you feeling okay?’ And I was like,…Yeah, I’m fine. He said, ‘Really, your blood pressure is 160 over 90; you should be having a heart attack.’”
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
Psalm 107:29
If God can speak the earth and all His creation into existence, He can certainly still the biggest waves and the fiercest storms. Whether in literal storms or the metaphorical storms of life, when we are in distress and cry out to God, He hears us and walks beside us through our troubles. Everyone who claims Jesus as God carries His promise as a lifeboat in the midst of chaos throughout their earthly lives. My faith in Him has kept me above water through times when I couldn’t make payroll, through family strife, and through the loss of loved ones. God brings eternal peace and safety, clears storms, and rescues all who trust in Him.
“I had to change a lot. The doctor made me go on a diet. I promised I would do things differently and take diabetic medication. He told me that if I did not take his suggestions, there was a very high likelihood that I would have a heart attack this year. My metabolism was breaking down. My body wasn’t working. Because of that, many other things were breaking down, shutting down, and not working.”
Laughing, she said, “It’s so strange that I gravitated towards running because I used to hate it. But over the years, I have always been drawn to it. Running has helped me work through things in life and, more recently, with my health.” (T) and I discussed running habits. I prefer quiet running, while (T) prefers headphones and just discovered the K-Love app. “It’s perfect timing whether I’m running for 30 or 45 minutes or an hour. Every time I go through something hard, running comes back into my life for some reason.”
“Then, for the first time, my step-daughter and I went running together, and we talked about how we have to take care of our bodies and make sure that we’re okay.” (T) added, “My step-daughter asked, ‘Why? Because you almost died?’ It’s like she’s watching everything. I had to take a step back and realize I am 100% taking a role in her life that she wants to follow and watch. I told her about the miscarriages and how life beat me down before she was old enough to understand. I said that everyone has to go through tough things.”
I thought of pointing out to (T) that she IS that loving, giving, nurturing Mom perfectly capable of raising a child. “That was my opportunity to lead her in the right direction… where my parents led me.”
“Do you have a go-to Scriptural passage?” I asked.
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14
“I take those words to mean that when you hold your peace, you are listening, and if you’re listening close enough, you can hear God. So through your storm, you fight no matter how chaotic or loud it may seem, even if God’s voice is so quiet and He seems to barely be there (his whisper) is even louder than whatever you’re going through, you just have to be still and pay attention. To me, it means His whisper is stronger than the storm.”
(T) took me through more of her struggles and pointed to areas where her long-held and profound faith has propelled her closer to the finish line. “I can’t overcome the devil without Jesus by my side,” she confessed. “And the devil knows that. If I can’t cut certain things or toxic people out of my life, the devil wins, and I’m not going to finish. I’m going to finish the race because that’s my goal. Satan’s not going to trick me. I’m not going to miss the finish line.”
“Through my running journey this year, I was able to reverse both of my diagnoses. I believe that was made possible by leaning more into being open with a healing heart and my walk with Christ.”
As this post is being published, (T) is running a half-marathon today.
In my walk as a Jesus follower, I’ve learned that I don’t have to be perfect. I will stray, I will sin, and I will not treat others as I want to be treated. But there is a tranquil, blue-skied calm ready for me on the other side of all my troubles when I place my faith and trust in Him. I pray that I can be quiet just enough to let God’s whispers fight my battles for me.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’”
Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV)
Key Applications:
- At times, circumstances seem overwhelming or impossible. God uses these moments to demonstrate His sovereignty and power. We are called to trust in His plan even when we can’t see a way forward. Pray through your next crisis that you fully trust in His plan.
- God fights for us, and we can stand firm in our faith. Sometimes, the best action is to be still, trust in God’s timing, and allow Him to work out His plans. When you pray this week, be silent after each petition. Listen to His whisper.
- God is a way-maker. Exodus 14 teaches us that God can open doors and provide solutions beyond our imagination. Keep that with you at all times.