Uphill

Several years ago I ran my first half marathon. I still remember the day very clearly. It was overcast with a light rain that got heavier as the day went on. The first 8 miles of the course was no easy trek. At first it started out as a gradual uphill. As I winded each turn the hill became more and more steep. I distinctly remember wanting to quit over and over, feeling wet, tired and that this race was never going to end. Not to mention 30 minutes into the race my ipod quit working. It was absolutely miserable. Obviously the conditions were not ideal. The further I ran the more pain I was experiencing in my knee and the heavier my legs felt. Mile 8 was definitely where I hit my wall. I remember telling myself just don't stop. You have to finish. With each step, as difficult and painful as it was I had to keep going forward.

This season of life has definitely felt like a marathon. This journey that we have been running the last 4+ years has for the most part felt like we've been running uphill. Each day we run gets increasingly more difficult and the decision to quit becomes more attractive. Spiritually speaking, my legs feel very heavy and I'm really not sure when this race will be over...in a race at least you know how many miles you have ahead of you, but in life no one knows what the next day holds. The finish line is no where to be seen. It's a challenge running a race that you don't know how long will last. The longer you run the more exhausting it is in every way.

In those last few miles it's a mental battle just staying on course.
It was the last few miles that were the hardest to push through. As I approached mile marker 12 with one left to go a good friend of mine came out and ran the last stretch with me. I remember feeling a little stupid about that but at the same time it gave me the extra strength that I needed. Well, eventually the uphill became downhill and I finished my half marathon, frozen, exhausted, completely sore and drained from the days events. When I crossed that finish line what I experienced was a great sense of accomplishment, pride and joy b/c I had endured my race, persevered and fulfilled what I had set out to do.

Life may often feel like an uphill battle but what goes up must eventually come down. Though this season of our life feels like it will never end, scripture tells us that many are the afflictions of the righteous, BUT the Lord WILL deliver him out of them ALL! (Psalms 34:19). It's my prayer that when this "race" is over and God brings us out we will look back at this time in our lives with great humility, wisdom, thankfulness and a heart that has been enlarged by life's trials so that we can run alongside those who are struggling to run their uphill race and encourage them on to finish strong and experience joy in the journey!

Crazy thing is...now I want to run a full marathon!