Blown Away

So, some of you may remember I have recently been training for my first 10k.  As could be expected, last Friday came, and I was not feeling prepared.  I tried to talk Bernie out of it, but these races aren't cheap you know, so we agreed it was too late to turn back.

Saturday morning, we woke up and headed to the convention center.  On the way over, I heard a song by Chris Tomlin on the radio called Everlasting God that sings:

"You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary..."

I think God put that song on just for me, because it was the perfect reminder heading into the race.  On my own, I may struggle to the end, but my God is everlasting, He does not faint, and He won't grow weary.  It was a great encouragement. 

As we began the race, I started out at a fairly mild pace, and when we finally made it to mile 2, I thought I was going to die.  But I kept pushing on, singing Chris Tomlin in my head.  Then, somehow mile 2 turned into mile 4 and eventually, I found myself making it all the way to the end. 

When I finished I had tears in my eyes, because I couldn't believe I actually did it.  And not only that, I exceeded the goals and expectations I had going into the race.  (much of that can be accredited to my sweet husband who stayed back and ran with me)

As I continue to debrief, the thing that has stayed with me is how in this instance, I set goals for myself and trained, but when showtime came, I was pleasantly surprised by the results.   

Similarly, I think there are times in life when we prepare and set goals for certain things, only to find ourselves blown away by our God and His ability to do "exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ask or imagine."  Causing me to pause and say, "Really God?  Do you know how good you are?  I had one plan in my head, and once again, you have blown me away!"

Or we may find ourselves walking through trials or suffering only to be met by a supernatural strength that carries us through just when we thought we couldn't take one more step forward.

I'm reminded of a talk that Joyce Meyer gave where she said, "you do what you can do and God will do what you cannot do."    

I am so overwhelmingly grateful that in all things, at all times, God is with us; we are not alone.  He is our strength, and His love for us is so deep, that He continually blows me away by His strength, support, provision, and love.  We are loved and incredibly blessed! 

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)  

“No eye has seen,
   no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
   what God has prepared for those who love him”

1 Corinthians 2:9

"Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint." 

Isaiah 40: 28-31

Also, if you're interested Chris Tomlin's song is below: