“I can’t go anymore,” I thought to myself. I was defeated. The sun
was beating on my face, my shoulders, and arms. My feet felt like they were on
fire. The sweat poured from my face as if someone had dumped a gallon of warm
water on me.
Just when my feet were about to stop, I heard… “Keep putting one
foot in front of the other. Keep doing that over and over. Focus on one step at
a time… Keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
I smiled through my pain. He me made it look so easy. He made it
sound so easy. Then I thought, “What if it really is that simple?” I could do
that. I could keep putting one foot in front of the other. I turned to my right
and watched this man, who I was falling in love with, cheer me on. He wasn’t
giving up on me. He wanted me to succeed. He wanted me to become stronger. He
was lovingly pushing me to the invisible finish line we had set.
My strength rose. My ears tingled listening to his Marine Corps
Cadence’s, as he ran beside me.
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other… and it will lead
you to the finish line.
I woke up this morning with such heaviness in my heart. I feel
pulled in many different direction in life as of late. As I mindlessly scrolled
through Facebook, my heart skipped as I saw a beautiful picture of my husband
that my father in law had posted along with a story of how Cody’s soul lives on
through the many lives he touched.
It wrenched my heart, it pierced my soul. I love hearing stories
of how Cody impacted others through his testimony and passion for life. But it
wrecks me to the core at the same time. My flesh screams that it was too soon
for him to leave this earth. My flesh aches with not getting to hear his
laughter and feel safe in his strong arms. Or get to see him hold my baby girl
again. So many torments. So much that is unfair.
So many times the last 8 months I don’t think I have the strength
to make it through a tough day. I hear these words… “Just Keep Putting One Foot
In Front Of The Other”.
I can hear my Husband’s voice cheering me on.
But… to top his voice… I hear my Heavenly Daddy saying the same.
The words, “Keep putting one foot in front of the other” have
helped me tremendously the last 5 years- since they were first spoken to me.
Cody and I would often remind one another of them when we faced difficult
things in what was our life together. We would repeat these words often while
running together. One would give the other strength when needed. But these
words have come to my mind countless times since Cody departed to his eternal
home.
When I want to give up, throw in the towel, so to speak. Shut
down, shut the world out. When I
want to give up progressing and moving forward in what is now my new life…
I hear the Holy Spirit prompting me… “Keep putting one foot in front of the
other”.
As I an avid runner, I have many times thought of the analogy that
our daily life and faith walk is much like running a race. There are many times
during a difficult run that I am having an internal conflict. One part of me is
screaming to walk or stop all together. The other part is passionately saying
“Keep putting one foot in front of the other.” I am proud to say the latter
usually wins that battle.
But what about the spiritual race I run daily? That is what really
matters. Proverbs 4:25 instructs us to “Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.” When I meditate on this verse, I see a
finish line in the distance.
What is the finish line?
Jesus.
My eyes are to remain on Him. He is the finish line.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is
to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task
of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24.
After the 5 days of searching for Cody’s body in the lake came to
a devastating end, the next morning I woke up with a strength that can only
come from the Lord. As soon as my eyes opened that morning, I had a strong urge
to go for a run. My mom was staying with me during this time so she watched
Abby while I ran. About 2 miles into my run, my feet slipped. I was running up a
slight hill and millions of pine needles had shrouded the road. A truck had
just passed me when my feet gave way and I fell to the ground. I felt the sting
of the pavement against my right knee and shin. I had used my hands to block
the majority of the fall so my hands were throbbing and scratched.
Without hesitation, I jolted up and continued my run. I pushed the minor embarrassment out of my mind and I ran even
stronger than I did before I fell.
Walking this faith walk is not about never falling.
In fact, get
ready to fall.
This faith journey is about how you get back up when this ugly world knocks you
down. It’s about Who you turn your eyes to even when you’ve fallen. You have never fallen too hard or too far for you to call on the Name of Jesus. He will
hear you. He will give you the strength you need and even some you didn’t know
you needed.
“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you
are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.” Isaiah 58:11.
Keep running your race.
Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they
shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31.
I Trust my God, I Trust my God, I Trust my God.
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