Rachel Originals

Remember who you were before the world told you who you had to be.

This morning, I ran a mile.  Not very impressive, I know.  And two years ago when I was running 10K’s with relative ease it wouldn’t have impressed me at all.  But I stopped running when I had a baby and every time I tried to convince myself to wake up at dawn, put on those shoes and get back out there with my now lazy dogs, I remembered how hard it was to start running. How it killed me to run two blocks, lungs rejecting the very idea of running. But two days ago when I finally set the alarm and made it out the door I could hardly believe it wasn’t like that this time.  On the second day I ran a full mile fairly easily.  It took me six weeks to work up to that when I took up running the first time.  I had forgotten I knew how to run, but my body remembered.

How many wonderful things do we avoid returning to because we think it will be like starting from scratch and all that we poured into it at one time is as nothing.  That the former effort was wasted when we quit.  But it isn’t.  That neglected instrument or the art you used to love may seem like someone else’s passion by now.  But pick up that bow or brush and realize you might yet have a song to play or paintings to bring to life.  Your soul will remember.  Dancer, put on the music and move again.  Your feet will remember the steps. The years of love and time you poured in are seeds for a resurrection. Perhaps even the closeness you once felt with the Lord, the times of intimate worship and joyful praise now seem like distant memories.  But your spirit will remember.  Your heart will remember.

Romans 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

The calling God had for your life, the dream you had as a young person that got left behind as living became surviving is still within you.  Remember who you were before the world told you who you had to be. If God put a dream in your heart, it was for a reason.  No matter how long it’s been, today is the day you can set your alarm, dust off your sneakers and start to run after it again. Begin, and you find you remember the way.

Letting Go of Fear and Walking in Faith

There is a famous, and now almost cliché, poem called “Footprints in the Sand.” It talks about walking with God beside the ocean in life’s journey and how he carries you along the shore through the rough times. I know some people love it, but I never did. Yes, it true that God will walk with you in the sand on the edge of the ocean for your whole life, it’s true he will carry you in your time of trouble—but is that all there is? Is that really as far as your faith will take you? Haven’t you ever looked out at that whole vast ocean — thought about the POWER of Christ available to us as believers — and thought – there must be more? Do you just believe IN a God that could walk with you on the water, or do you believe God when he calls you to walk out on the water – and do you believe Him enough to go?

If He is calling you to do something for Him, something you can’t possibly imagine yourself doing, remember He is also prepared to transform you into that person that is needed for the task. We can’t go by our emotions or feelings or thoughts, they will always tell us to stay on the shore, stay in the boat. They will always remind you that you can’t. But God CAN.  God can use us no matter how we feel, but he can’t use us if we won’t obey. One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” All things. Even, especially, the things God has called you to do that you are afraid to do. Those are almost always the places where God will use you most powerfully.

The amazing thing is stepping out in faith may seem terrifying, but the safest place to be is in the center of the will of God. Psalm 78:53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. When we are walking in Faith God will protect us in ways He simply can’t when we refuse to obey Him, and end up in disobedience which opens us up to the enemies attacks. So, ironically, by avoiding taking “a risk” for God, we are taking a much bigger risk!

I believe God has an amazing story He wants to tell through every person. Even you.  He has miracles He wants to perform and ministry He wants to accomplish, but we have to obey Him when he says to “fear not” and step out with faith, and not doubt when he asks us to walk out to Him. Don’t be satisfied any more to look back at your life and see footprints in the sand, to know you struggled and barely survived the journey – when I look back at my life I want to remember I left footprints on the water!