The summer before entering seventh grade my parents encouraged me to be a part of fall sports. The two options were cross-country and volleyball. It only took a week of volleyball camp to determine that I would run cross-country. All summer my dad, an avid runner, tried to get me to go run with him. “Just a mile” he’d coax, but I was not interested in training. I had no respect for the two miles I would soon be required to run on the team. I figured I’d just be able to do it! The more he pushed the more I dug in my heels. One time I did agree to go with him and at the mile mark he encouraged me to go just a half mile more and I refused. He kept going thinking I would follow, but I defiantly turned around and headed back home.
Needless to say, the cross-country practices were a rude awakening. This running thing was hard! I was running with a teammate during my first race when she stopped to walk. I thought that sounded pretty nice and, hey, I didn’t want to leave my teammate all alone, so I stopped to walk too. She then dropped out of the race, leaving me alone to finish last. That stung. I did not like that feeling at all and throughout the rest of the season really worked hard to improve.
Fast forward to my senior year of high school. I was a very strong runner by this point and going into the tournament I knew I should do pretty well. I had been to Regionals every year of high school but always seemed to crash and burn at that race. This year if I ran like I knew I could, I would qualify for State. I also knew that if I didn’t qualify for State, this would be my last race…and that would also mean I didn’t run to my full potential. I put a ton of pressure on myself and was shaking with nerves before the starting gun went off. The top 20 runners got to go to State, and I was determined to be among them.
As the race began, I felt strong and was really pushing myself. I was in 10th-12th position most of the race, and I could soon see the finish line ahead of me. I’ll never know or understand what happened next, but with just about 200 meters to go, my legs left me. They just wouldn’t go any more. It was like I was in slow motion. And runner after runner was passing me! I was helpless to do anything about it. I stumbled across the finish line, barely making it into my dad’s arms as he scooped me up and took me to the med tent. All I wanted to know is if I made it and no one knew what position I ended up finishing. Some people thought that I was 20th, others thought maybe 22nd…As I recovered physically, I began to contend with the fact that I might not have made the cut. My coaches, friends, family, and I all waited with bated breath for the official results. I was sitting quietly stretching when my dad tackled me and shouted that I made it–20th place! I was so relieved and grateful for the opportunity to end my high school cross country career at State.
Some of you may feel like you’re in the back of the pack, in last place. Everyone else’s lives seem to be moving right along and you feel left behind. You see growth in others but it’s hard to see it in yourself. Maybe you’re single and watching everyone around you get married. Maybe you’re married and everyone is having kids but you. Maybe you are a mom and everyone else seems to be able to juggle all the things and you feel like you can’t. Maybe you’re retired and see some of the adventures friends are taking and feel like life is passing you by. Wherever you find yourself, know that God sees you right where you are and is in it with you. Keep going!
Others of you might be in a place in life where you are strong and capable. Life is going well and you feel unstoppable. Praise God! Remember to thank Him for this season. Also remember not to rely on your own strength, but God’s. When we feel like we can do it all, we often think it’s because of our own doing and forget God. Continue to seek God and cling close to Him.
Finally, some of you may be barely hanging on and are in really tough places. You can’t seem to move forward; even one step in front of the other seems too overwhelming. Your strength is giving out–you are weak. I encourage you to let the Father scoop you up. He’ll carry you through.
Hebrews 12:1 says to run with perseverance, which is encouragement we all need. Isaiah 40:29-31 promises the LORD will renew your strength, but before that it acknowledges that even youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted. God knows we’re going to run out of steam sometimes, and he’s there to pick us up on wings like eagles so that we can continue to run and not be weary and walk and not faint.
Wherever you are in your journey, keep going and know that God is with you every step of the way. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6), no matter where you are.
Image by iphotoklick from Pixabay
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Danielle (Dani) Rupp grew up in a small town in Ohio and is a true Buckeye fan, though she tries not to be obnoxious about it. In 2011 she came to PA to earn her Master of Social Work degree. After graduation Dani accepted a position as a mental health therapist for children and adolescents in Coatesville. She was a nanny for several years as well. During that time she lived in Kennett Square and attended Willowdale Chapel. She returned several years ago from South Asia where she learned to tolerate spicy food and cross the roads without being hit, as well as volunteered with International Justice Mission in their Aftercare Department. In her free time, Dani enjoys going on mission trips/traveling, running, reading, and connecting with loved ones—preferably over coffee and a sweet treat.
WOMEN'S IF:2024 CONFERENCE
At IF:2024, we want to create the opportunity for you to experience Jesus. We want you to remember His character, power, mystery, love and delight. Jesus is our friend, our King, our reason to live fully alive. He fills our longings. He heals our wounds. He saves us from ourselves. He gives us hope when everything else fails us. All of this is because of Jesus.
IF:2024 is a space for us to remember who Jesus is and why we love him. For two days, let’s rediscover the person of Jesus, who is alive and wants to take us on an adventure toward full life. And then, let’s go give Him away to the whole world. The event will be held on Friday, March 15 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday, March 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at our Kennett Campus.
Registration deadline is March 7, 2024.
CLICK HERE for more information and registration.