You know the hard days? Those that seem to last for 3 days and everything that could go wrong does and you're just weary... they seem to happen all too often this semester. Monday was such a day, the stereotypical start-of-the week chaos. I finally decided that the only way to relieve any stress was to go for a run, otherwise the tears and frustration would keep flowing. With my face set and running shoes on I headed for the woods and ran until I couldn't breathe. The thoughts in my head were scattered and jumbled and still fogged with the stress of the day... but I did notice that the rain and clouds of earlier had passed to reveal a beautiful afternoon. Running until my legs screamed stop, worship music whispering harmony through my headphones... and I saw the sun beginning to set through the trees. I stopped and spoke thanks to the Creator who knows how to heal my heart better than any human every could. Thanks to the only One who can offer me peace and help when I 'm hurting like that. And I kept running. Another break in the trees, another glimpse of a sky full of golden glory, clouds dancing an intricate pattern... yellow-brown leaves mimicking the golden edged beauty of the clouds...but I couldn't stop yet, because this path has another spot, one where the sky stretches wide overhead and the trees open up to a meadow of tall grasses that whisper of peace... so I kept running. No longer the frantic stressful run of earlier, but a steady purposeful pace to see more of who God is on this hard day. And then the trees gave way to the grass and I saw. The sky ablaze with golden light, a sunset showing off as it passes through the maze of clouds... I realized then the beauty of the hard. The hard is beautiful because it makes me keep running. I get glimpses of the purposes of the Lord but I have to keep running to see the fullness of his plan. Many people saw the sunset on Monday, but depending on where you were standing, each saw it differently. The clouds change the colors and light that is reflected and displayed. So my circumstances affect the way I see God's plan, but regardless of how I see it, He is the Artist. He sees the length and depth of the sky. He sees my life in full and allows me glimpses as I run, beautiful glimpses of how He is working that I won't understand unless I keep running, trusting that He will show me the full picture when it is time. Oh what a faithful God.
Keep running on the hard days-- the Faithful Artist knows the path, and He will show you the beauty of the hard if you will keep running after Him to find it.
How thankful I am for my Best Friend who brings me solace and perspective in a sunset.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
1 Corinthian 13:12 (Message)
