Running in the Peace of Christ.

I had an encouraging conversation with my good friend the other day, and I hope it encourages you too. <3 

Shayna is an incredible runner. She runs for the Grand Valley State University cross-country and track & field teams, and if I told you her workouts, your jaw would drop. I’ve always looked up to Shayna for how hard she works, how passionate she is about the things she does, and how she laughs and smiles her way through the good times and the hard times. 

Passion and hard work do not always prevent injuries. Shayna has battled injury after injury throughout her college running career, spending more time in the pool or stationary bike than she has on the track during many seasons. I’ve known Shayna for four years now, and I’ve watched how the way she handles set-backs change as she has grown closer to Jesus and fervently pursued her faith. 

Shayna’s most recent injury was in her achilles. There was so much pressure on her achilles that it was too painful to run at the level she was running, and at times, it was even painful to walk. She had a surgery to relieve the pressure and ease the tension, in hopes that after a long recovery, she could run pain free again. This set-back ended her senior season early and has slowed down her preparation for her 5th year on the team. She got to do her very first five minute run back the other day (yay!), and she shared with me how this injury, surgery and recovery has been teaching her to rely more on God—in all things, including running. 

She is humbly offering her life, as broken as it may be, to the King of Kings to honor and glorify Him. 

Shayna was explaining to me that she just wants to do it right this time, and has been bathing the whole process in prayer. Five minutes of running sounds short, but after a surgery and lots of time off, it can produce a lot of anxiety for a runner to start coming back. So before her run, she prayed. Shayna has been inviting the Lord into this whole process—deciding to turn away from the anxiety and pressure that can so easily distract us from our real purpose and take the joy away from the things we love. Inviting the Holy Spirit into each moment, Shayna has been feeling more peace about running than she ever has before. No matter the results, no matter what God's plan for the rest of her college running career may look like—it is all His.

What expectations, dreams and desires do we each need to fully surrender with open palms, as an offering to our King? Whether you’re an athlete and you know exactly how injuries feel, or you have experienced setbacks in the pursuit of your own dreams and goals, you have most likely experienced the frustration and confusion that it can cause about what is to come. The future is unknown to us, but we know the One who holds it (Proverbs 16:9). Choosing to trust God and rely on the work of the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts is where we will find fulfillment and joy, in any and all circumstances. He truly gives peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

May we never stop seeking to understand that God’s plan is greater than what we could dream up for ourselves. He is taking each of us on a journey to grow and learn, so that we may live in peace and joy, freely for Him.  

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or fearful.” 

John 14:27

When we don’t understand what God is doing and how He is going to use it for His good, we can rest in the truth that our good, good Father holds the future, and truly desires the grant us the peace that our hearts so deeply crave. Our honest offering to the King of kings may be broken and filled with injuries, but He delights to leave us with peace as we fully surrender and live for His Kingdom.