Believing the Impossible
Yesterday, I ran 16 minutes: two 8 minute blocks with 5 minutes of walking in between. Five weeks ago, I was barely able to run for 1 minute. When I first started Couch to 5K, as I looked ahead to the upcoming workouts that I knew I would face, running for 5 minutes, 8 minutes, 10 minutes without stopping seemed impossible. Running for 30 minutes in just 9 weeks seemed impossible.
But now? I feel confident that my body can handle what's ahead. I have more energy. Running is getting easier. I've had to push through some achy muscles, potential shin splints, and a hard mental struggle of just getting my body to keep moving. But it's getting easier.
As I continue this running journey, I find that the theme of pushing through is coinciding with another season of life I currently find myself in. Although this one I was not expecting at all. Not in the slightest.
Last Friday, I learned that at the end of the month, I will be laid off from my job at Grow Appalachia.
I'll spare you the wave of shock, sadness, disbelief, and fear that seemed to set in all at once. I'll not go into an explanation here, although I'll happily talk privately to anyone who wishes to (You can email me or private message me here on Facebook). But this is what's happening. So here I am in this unexpected season of being back on the job search after almost 3 years, back in the waiting for applications, waiting for potential interviews, back in the waiting. And praying. And hoping that something even more wonderful that what I've had the amazing privilege to be a part of will come along in the proper timing.
But there is another aspect to this season: A small group that I've been a part of for a while recently started a new book, Sun Stand Still. Audacious faith is the key in this book, and we are discovering what a "Sun Stand Still" prayer looks like in each of our lives. I didn't know what mine was going into this study. Now I do. And after the shock, sadness, disbelief, and fear lessened slightly that first day, I couldn't help but thank God... That this timing for this study happened exactly when it did. Because now I have a prime opportunity to turn to, trust, lean in, press into, and BELIEVE that God can and will do what He says He will.
He doesn't say that things will make sense. And they don't right now. But He does say that He will walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death.
In this unexpected season of life, I am choosing to believe the impossible. I am hopeful, and God is faithful.
I had a choice last Friday. Or rather, I had several choices: I could have stormed off and been angry. I could have demanded another way. I could have pointed fingers. I could have been victimized. No one would have blamed me for any of those. But as much as that day, and this time, caught me by surprise, it did not catch God by surprise. I have comfort in that. What's more, the level of support I've received from my family, my co-workers, and my friends has been nothing short of incredible, genuine, encouraging, and overwhelmingly...wonderful. I really can't describe it any other way.
I've been ministered to by a lot of music lately, mostly Bethel's amazing new album, "Starlight". Today, though, the most recent has been a song by Ellie Holcomb (Find You Here):
It's not the news that any of us hoped that we would hear
It's not the road we would have chosen, no
The only thing that we can see is darkness up ahead
But You're asking us to lay our worry down and sing a song instead
And I didn't know I'd find You here
In the middle of my deepest fear, but
You are drawing near
You are overwhelming me, with peace
So I'll lift my voice and sing
You're gonna carry us through everything
You are drawing near
You're overwhelming all my fears, with peace
I covet your prayers, friends, over the next four weeks as I transition out of Grow and, Lord willing, into a new place. Ideally, another Berea opening would be the best, but I am willing and able to go where the Lord leads me. Please pray that something will arise, and soon!
The painting here is one done by my friend Angela; she's not only an amazing friend, she has a heart of gold, she has an infectious smile and personality...And obviously, she's a brilliant artist! God put her in my life just when it was needed and I'm thankful for it. I'm reminded, in this painting, of not just the beauty of life, but that God is good, and provides exactly what we need exactly when we need it. Even when we can't see it.
I'm choosing to believe the impossible. Pray with me and for me, please! Let's believe that God will do what He says He will.
But now? I feel confident that my body can handle what's ahead. I have more energy. Running is getting easier. I've had to push through some achy muscles, potential shin splints, and a hard mental struggle of just getting my body to keep moving. But it's getting easier.
As I continue this running journey, I find that the theme of pushing through is coinciding with another season of life I currently find myself in. Although this one I was not expecting at all. Not in the slightest.
Last Friday, I learned that at the end of the month, I will be laid off from my job at Grow Appalachia.
I'll spare you the wave of shock, sadness, disbelief, and fear that seemed to set in all at once. I'll not go into an explanation here, although I'll happily talk privately to anyone who wishes to (You can email me or private message me here on Facebook). But this is what's happening. So here I am in this unexpected season of being back on the job search after almost 3 years, back in the waiting for applications, waiting for potential interviews, back in the waiting. And praying. And hoping that something even more wonderful that what I've had the amazing privilege to be a part of will come along in the proper timing.
But there is another aspect to this season: A small group that I've been a part of for a while recently started a new book, Sun Stand Still. Audacious faith is the key in this book, and we are discovering what a "Sun Stand Still" prayer looks like in each of our lives. I didn't know what mine was going into this study. Now I do. And after the shock, sadness, disbelief, and fear lessened slightly that first day, I couldn't help but thank God... That this timing for this study happened exactly when it did. Because now I have a prime opportunity to turn to, trust, lean in, press into, and BELIEVE that God can and will do what He says He will.
He doesn't say that things will make sense. And they don't right now. But He does say that He will walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death.
In this unexpected season of life, I am choosing to believe the impossible. I am hopeful, and God is faithful.
I had a choice last Friday. Or rather, I had several choices: I could have stormed off and been angry. I could have demanded another way. I could have pointed fingers. I could have been victimized. No one would have blamed me for any of those. But as much as that day, and this time, caught me by surprise, it did not catch God by surprise. I have comfort in that. What's more, the level of support I've received from my family, my co-workers, and my friends has been nothing short of incredible, genuine, encouraging, and overwhelmingly...wonderful. I really can't describe it any other way.
I've been ministered to by a lot of music lately, mostly Bethel's amazing new album, "Starlight". Today, though, the most recent has been a song by Ellie Holcomb (Find You Here):
It's not the news that any of us hoped that we would hear
It's not the road we would have chosen, no
The only thing that we can see is darkness up ahead
But You're asking us to lay our worry down and sing a song instead
And I didn't know I'd find You here
In the middle of my deepest fear, but
You are drawing near
You are overwhelming me, with peace
So I'll lift my voice and sing
You're gonna carry us through everything
You are drawing near
You're overwhelming all my fears, with peace
I covet your prayers, friends, over the next four weeks as I transition out of Grow and, Lord willing, into a new place. Ideally, another Berea opening would be the best, but I am willing and able to go where the Lord leads me. Please pray that something will arise, and soon!
The painting here is one done by my friend Angela; she's not only an amazing friend, she has a heart of gold, she has an infectious smile and personality...And obviously, she's a brilliant artist! God put her in my life just when it was needed and I'm thankful for it. I'm reminded, in this painting, of not just the beauty of life, but that God is good, and provides exactly what we need exactly when we need it. Even when we can't see it.
I'm choosing to believe the impossible. Pray with me and for me, please! Let's believe that God will do what He says He will.
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