Runners love our little country road, because it is easy to mark off four miles, the scenery is beautiful, and houses are not too far away to get help if needed.
I miss running. I miss running with my friends at 5 A. M. in the mornings. I miss beating my best time, and the endorphin rush that comes after a good run. When I see the runners going down the road my heart tries to go running with them. My feet desire the feel of tread pulling against asphalt.
Prayer, and the dreams I bring before the Lord have similar longings. I long and cry out at times for the dreams that are in my heart, and the answer seems so very slow incoming. I ask Him my questions, “when, how,…when?”
Yet the answers He gives never seem to match the questions I’ve asked.
Jesus did that frequently when talking to his disciples. They would ask Him a question, and His answer would seem to come out of left field. He seems to give the answer to a question He knows we need to hear, instead of us hearing the answer that we feel we need to know.
Pacing inside like a race horse in it stall, I feel the need to take matters into my own hands – to put on my holy running shoes and take off for the goal that I want so desperately. The goal, and the dream that I know He placed in my heart before the foundation of the earth.
Yet, by putting my running shoes on and taking off, I know that I would move forward without the guidance of prayer.
I would achieve without learning the value of patience.
I would gather trophies of achievement, without regard for others walking in a similar path.
The point of this life is not to collect stuff to hang on our wall, or place on our shelf, to show that we are valuable. It is in the slower pace of the walking with others, in their affliction, their wounds, and their trials, without regard for recognition, that we become important.
“Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” ( James 4:10 NIV )
And it is only when we arrive at our heavenly home, that we see our Father collected every trophy, every plaque, every piece of paper that shows how smart and valuable we are, and has placed them all in a trophy case with our name engraved in gold at the top.
Our dreams are never wasted, never belittled, or forgotten, but how we use them in our everyday life is where our recognition comes. It is in the attention to what God has placed in front of us that we find the answers to the questions.
Linking for the first time with Women to Women
Sometimes I think I hear Him whisper, “I would consider it mighty holy, and an honorable achievement, if you would iron your husbands shirts today.”
Because, God doesn’t always answer the question we ask, but He always gives us the answer to the question that we need to know.
When we finally understand the right question, then we run with confidence and success this 5K we call our dream.
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Love it, Di. Especially the part about Him giving us the answers we need. It’s frustrating, but ultimately for my best. HE IS GOOD 🙂
Love you!
Oh Girl, You and I are cut from the same cloth, and we Get how God works in this way!
Everyday occurrences as worship. Yes, everyday. Great post-thanks! -cyn-
Thank you Cyn, it is great to have you here!
“Because, God doesn’t always answer the question we ask, but He always gives us the answer to the question that we need to know.” Love that. Yes, He does have a way of doing that — of focusing us, if we listen. I have to set my agenda down, focus on Him, and listen. Thanks for the reminder!
Laura, I think we are all in that boat of needing to set down our agendas to make sure that it is His agenda as well. Thank you for visiting, It is nice to meet you!
Love it Di- know He loves your attitude- because He knows it’s not easy!
Mary, You are a treasure!
This is so beautiful, Diane. I especially love this: “Our dreams are never wasted, never belittled, or forgotten, but how we use them in our everyday life is where our recognition comes. It is in the attention to what God has placed in front of us that we find the answers to the questions.”
Isn’t this the hard and beautiful truth? Lovely images too, friend. Lovely, lovely.