My most recent lesson learned in an effort to get back in shape…

I was into my 4th mile when I realized there was this one last hill I had forgotten about. I hadn’t intended on going 5 miles that day, but had gotten myself further from the house than I anticipated. And it was hot. Most of my route had been in direct sunlight and it was in the middle of the day. Yes, I’m a genius.

Halfway up this hill, I almost had to stop. I was so tired. I was so hot. I thought to myself, “if anyone is looking, they’re probably thinking, good grief it’s just a little hill, why is she going so slow? Why is she so red? Why is she breathing so heavy? Why is she crying?” (Kidding).

What they wouldn’t have known is that I had already jogged/walked 4+ miles by this point. I had already climbed numerous, ginormous mountains (). I had already gone further than I intended, and I probably wasn’t far enough into my “get back in shape” plan to tackle this kind of route. They didn’t know the whole story of what led to my current struggle.

That’s when I felt the Lord reminding me that the next time I see someone struggling in their journey, regardless of whether I perceive their struggle as a small incline or a ginormous mountain, I need to encourage them. I don’t always know where someone has been. What road they’ve just travelled. What mountains they’ve already climbed. Maybe their journey is just starting and this is their first real battle. Maybe they’ve been traveling a while and thought they were in for a bit of smooth sailing and then, wham, out of nowhere, another obstacle appears that they weren’t prepared for. Maybe they’ve been gone a while and are trying to find their way back. Maybe they brought this on themselves. Maybe they had no control over how they got where they are. Maybe it’s not our job to care about the hows and the whys. Maybe it’s our job to just encourage them. Right where they are. Maybe a smile and a “you’ve got this” or an “I’m praying for you”, or “ don’t give up”, or “keep going”, or just a good ole “atta boy”.

Maybe that’s how we’ve gotten through our battles to this point. Maybe someone came along side us with a smile of encouragement or a prayer for endurance. Maybe we should realize it’s not our job to judge how someone is handling a particular battle. Maybe our job is to just encourage each other in and through those battles.

I am looking very forward to Daylight Savings Time (March 14th for those who may not be aware).  When the sun stays out longer, I seem to be more productive with my life!  During the months where it’s dark outside by 5:30 pm and the sun is finished for the day, so am I.  There’s something about daylight that keeps me motivated and energized.  The darkness is not motivating.  As a matter of fact, the darkness can be debilitating, even depressing at times.  I find myself zapped of energy and in a rut pretty quickly during the months of shorter days.  By the time I get home from work and it is already dark, I do my normal “get home from work” routine then, you can usually find me curled up on the sofa pretty early in the evening until it’s time to for bed.  Darkness has a way of bringing down my mood, sucking all the motivation right out of me, convincing me that it’s okay to call it quits early and ignore things that are important that need attention.   

But then, after a few months, the sun starts to hang out a little while longer. I find myself with a tad more energy.  I start to add things to my “get home from work” routine. I MAY even find a little motivation to take a walk or do something outside after work.  I start to dig my way out of the rut I’ve been in and start to be a little more productive with my life.  And usually by the time Daylight Savings Time rolls around, I’m back! I’m motivated, I have new found energy, and I’m out of the nightly rut!

Our spiritual lives are the same way.  When we are living in the light of Jesus, we are productive, motivated, energized!  We are doing the thing!  But sometimes along the way, the enemy creeps into our thoughts and plants seeds of doubt just like he did with Eve in the Garden.  In Genesis 3:1, we read how he planted doubt by asking, “Did God actually say…”.  That’s all it took!  This started Eve’s questioning the Word of God. This questioning led to sin and separation and darkness.  What Eve ultimately believes by giving in to temptation, is that there is something about the character of God that is not fully trustworthy.  The enemy still does this.  His tactics haven’t changed since the garden and unfortunately, humans haven’t changed either.  When we fully believe God is Who He says He is, and we live in the full confidence that we are who He says we are, we are living in the light of Jesus and it is good!  The enemy doesn’t like it one bit either.  So, he goes to work, planting seeds of doubt which can ultimately result in us turning to the darkness.  Living apart from God. We find ourselves ultimately questioning his character.  The longer we let this go on, the more we find ourselves unproductive, un-energized, un-motivated, and finally diving head first in to the rut!

If you have found yourself lately living in the darkness of doubt, ask God to help you out! Ask Him to remind you that He is trustworthy. That He is Who He says He is and you are who He says you are. Read Scripture. Talk to other Christ followers. Be encouraged because The Time is about to change and it’s Time for you to change as well!