Opposition Brings Opportunity

First of all....I am NOT a runner! IYKMYK. But on our recent family vaca I was determined to get in some movement. I knew the day would be filled with scattered showers so I got early and was out of the house at 0700 with a 30% chance of rain for the upcoming hour. I turned on my Apple Radio station Worship for Anxiety - Essential Worship and began walking. Just after the first corner it began to drizzle, I saw another man running so I decided to jog. I didn't really have a plan on where or how far I was going to go - just that I knew I needed to. So I set a goal to run to the stop sign ahead and I made it!! OK left or right - I knew what was right so I decided to go left ( This is when the Holy Spirit started speaking!) The path less traveled or at least untraveled for me....thats often where He puts us right! I again walked a bit and then set another goal ahead to run to and again made it...another turn, left or right?? This time I chose right as i knew that would take me to the highway - though I didnt know how far it was.... up and down hills the walking / running continued setting goals along the way. By this time however it was POURING rain! The song Sound Mind by Kory Miller came on and really helped me push through the thoughts of if I could actually do this...people drove by thinking who knows what at the wet mess I had become but I just waved and kept on going. I made it to the highway, so proud of how far the Lord had brought me even when I doubted myself. I took a min to breathe and then headed back up the hill towards our cabin, worshiping the whole way - with a sound mind! This is when it takes a turn lol. I couldn't remember what street I had come from, I was focused on my goal and missed it. So I found a tree and pulled my phone out of my wet shirt where I had it stashed in the front of my bra - I know you understand ladies. I pulled up the cabin and quickly decided which way to continue, this was at a 3 road split- I took the outer road to the right and kept on a chuggin. I continued the run and walk thing and was surprisingly doing much better than expected... however it got to a point after what seemed like way too far I decided to again find a tree and check the map. This time it told me I was waaaayyyyy off track and would take me 30 mins to get back to the cabin, I had already been gone for an hour at this point. I decided to call for a pickup. I struggled to get my soaking wet hands and phone to cooperated as I shared my location with my son and then set off back in the direction they would be coming from. At that moment God shared these things with me....

1. Some people can run the whole way and they get to their destination quickly without getting distracted - but you may miss some road signs along the way

2. Some people have to take it in intervals - Sometimes God puts us in life intervals. We're just crusing right along and the BAM, He slows us down ie. Were out of breath, theres an obstacle in our way, or He has something planned for us and we need to be ready

3. Some people can only walk - But in walking your still headed in the direction the Lord has for you and those who walk can take in the things around them more easily, they are more aware of their surroundings and can help others or adjust whereas if your running you may miss some things He has for you.

4. Also, sometimes you get rained on. Your trying your best to do what God wants you to do and its just opposition hitting you in the face and weighing you down....but DO NOT STOP!! A lot of times this is satan because he knows your so close to where God wants you to be!

5. Then, sometimes, you have to call for help. But this can also be an opportunity for others to come along side you and for you to share what God has brought you through and give them hope to themselves be brave enough to go where God leads - opportunity!

So, faster isnt always better. Often God is using the hills, the wrong turns and the rain to open our eyes to things He has planned for us, to build our character and to learn to trust Him. I was able to share this with my family when we arrived back to the cabin, take a hot shower ( thank you Lord) and be proud of the fact that I kept going... until God intervened and told me it was time to stop, that I had gone far enough. This reminded me of 2 Timothy 4:7 where Paul writes near the end of his life "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith". May we all be able to say this when our time comes!! So here I am cheering you on, walking, running, crawling...just keep going my friends and may the presence of the Lord surround you, may His face shine upon you and give you stength to keep going when you so badly want to quit. You can do it!!! Whatever "it" is --- God is bigger!!!