10 days ago it was Sunday morning at GYC in Louisville, Kentucky. (Is it just me, or does it seem like a lot longer than that?)
At 4 o'clock that Sunday morning I rolled out of bed and started to prep for an event I had been looking forward to for six months - the Mission 5K. All weekend I had been making sure to stay hydrated, over Christmas break I had run a couple 5Ks with my dad to make sure I was up to speed (side note: my dad dragged me out in 20 degree weather to run on unplowed, snowy roads with all our snow gear on...I have the coolest dad!), I had brought my favorite running shoes and clothes, and I had arranged to have friends pick me up on the way to the race since I am TERRIBLE with directions... Everything was ready, and I was stoked!
You see, the Mission 5K was my mile marker of victory. Victory over a debilitating ankle injury that had kept me from running, and sometimes from even walking, for two years. Since my surgery in July I had been learning to stand, to slowly walk, to speed walk, to jog lightly, and finally, in just the last couple weeks, to run and jump freely without pain. And since that surgery I had been counting the weeks till the Mission 5K, tracking my progress, and praying that God would heal me in time.
Though I'd hardly slept at all the night before, I jumped out of bed on January 3rd praising the Lord for a recovery I had doubted possible, and praying for safety as I would run my first post-injury race.
But the race didn't happen for me.
Through a complicated chain of events my friends were unable to pick me up, and I ended up running all over the place looking for the starting line. I desperately cried to God to help me, and truly trusted He would work it all out, until I finally did find the starting line and saw with my own eyes that the race was over. As I stood there and congratulated my many friends who had run, I could barely hold in my tears of bitter heartache and disappointment.
I ran back to my hotel, and as soon as I was alone the tears and questions came in a flood.
What was God's purpose in this?
Why didn't my friends come for me?
How could this work out for good?
In the midst of those questions and the aching of my disappointed heart Jesus came near to me, and His presence brought me joy.
Not only did He give me His joy, but He also gave me a verse of a poem to encourage me.
That bit of poem led me to search His Word, and that search resulted in more verses of poetry and a refrain.
Here are some of the passages I studied, and below is the poem He gave me:
- Phil. 1:28-29
- Romans 8:17-18, 35-39
- HDL 27.6-28.1
- DA 224.4-5
- Luke 12:22-32
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Fear not,
little flock;
for it is your Father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Though I have no bread for my table
I know I shall not hunger
The Lord who works to feed the birds
Does neither sleep nor slumber
If He can feed the sparrows
And clothe the flow'ring trees
Why should I fear that He'd neglect
To care for all my needs?
Fear not,
little flock;
for it is your Father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Though all my friends may fail me,
My Jesus is always near.
Through trial and disappointment,
My heart has nothing to fear.
Even deep in the valley
Of the lonely shadow of death,
My Savior walks beside me
And supplies my every breath.
Fear not,
little flock;
for it is your Father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Though on this earth a pilgrim
No fortune to my name
And though to all the watching world
My path is one of shame
My life is not what it appears
I do not walk alone
I have a treasure no one sees
My heart calls heaven home.
Fear not,
little flock;
for it is your Father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
So seek ye first the kingdom
though the path be dark with loss
For if with Him we suffer
and daily bear His cross
Then we can claim His promise
of constant victory
And glory that cannot compare
with present agony.
Fear not,
little flock;
for it is your Father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Fear not, my friends. In this world we will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, our Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on...But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and if, as ye seek, ye suffer with Him, so ye may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us...and all these things shall be added unto you. - (my combination of Luke 12 & Romans 8)
Have no doubt. He will give you the Kingdom.
