Tag: Thankful

Stop Negotiating The Terms Of Your Surrender To God

Today’s a new day!

One of the greatest struggles in the Christian life is not whether we believe in God—it is whether we are willing to surrender everything to Him.

Too often, we approach God with conditions.

“Lord, I’ll follow You… as long as You don’t ask me to give that up.”

“I’ll trust You… if You tell me the whole plan first.”

“I’ll obey… if it doesn’t cost me too much.”

“I’ll forgive… but only if they apologize.”

“I’ll go wherever You lead… except there.”

Without realizing it, we begin negotiating the terms of our surrender.

But surrender isn’t a negotiation.

It’s an act of complete trust.

Jesus never invited His disciples into a contract where both sides could bargain. He invited them into a relationship built on faith, love, and obedience.

When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He didn’t hand them a detailed itinerary. He didn’t promise comfort, popularity, or an easy life. He simply asked them to trust Him.

And they did.

Real surrender says:

“Jesus, I don’t need to know every step because I know the One who is leading me.”

That kind of faith changes everything.

The truth is, partial surrender is still resistance.

When we hold tightly to our plans, our fears, our pride, our bitterness, or our desire for control, we leave little room for God to do what only He can do.

God isn’t trying to take something good away from us.

He is trying to give us something far greater than we could ever create on our own.

Many of us spend years asking God to bless our plans instead of asking Him to replace them with His.

Yet Scripture reminds us that His ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are higher than ours. What feels like a loss in the moment often becomes the doorway to God’s greatest blessings.

Looking back over my own life, I can honestly say that some of the hardest seasons were also the seasons that taught me the deepest lessons about surrender.

Illness.

Loss.

Disappointment.

Waiting.

None of those chapters were easy.

But every one of them taught me that God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon my understanding.

There were moments when I wanted answers.

God invited me to trust.

There were moments when I wanted control.

God invited me to surrender.

There were moments when I wanted my own timeline.

God reminded me that His timing is always perfect.

I’ve learned that peace doesn’t come from having every question answered.

Peace comes from placing every unanswered question into the hands of Jesus.

The cross itself is the ultimate picture of surrender.

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane,

“Not My will, but Yours be done.”

If the Son of God surrendered Himself completely to the Father’s will, how much more should we?

God cannot fully direct a life that refuses to let go of the steering wheel.

He calls us to lay down our dreams, our fears, our expectations, our comfort, our pride, and even our understanding.

Not because He wants less for us.

Because He wants more.

His plans are always better than our plans.

His purpose is greater than our preferences.

His peace is deeper than our control.

So today, stop negotiating the terms of your surrender.

Stop asking God to fit into your agenda.

Instead, ask Him to make your heart fit His.

Lay everything at the foot of the Cross.

Hold nothing back.

Trust Him with the parts of your life that feel uncertain.

Give Him your future.

Give Him your pain.

Give Him your dreams.

Give Him your fears.

Give Him everything.

Because the safest place you will ever be is completely surrendered to Jesus Christ.

True freedom is not found in controlling your life.

It is found in placing your life into the hands of the One who gave His life for you.

Today is a good day to stop negotiating…

…and simply say,

“Lord Jesus, I am Yours.

Have Your way in me.”

Amen. ~OC

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A New Week

A new week is a gift from God. It arrives with fresh opportunities, new mercies, and another chance to reflect the love of Jesus to a world that desperately needs hope. No matter what happened last week—the victories, the disappointments, the unanswered prayers, or the unexpected challenges—today is a new beginning.

As we step into this week, let’s choose to fill our hearts with hope, praise, and thanksgiving. Hope reminds us that God is still working, even when we cannot see it. Praise shifts our focus from our problems to His promises. Thanksgiving reminds us that every good gift comes from our Heavenly Father, even in seasons when life feels difficult.

This week, let us truly strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

There are people all around us who are carrying burdens that we know nothing about. A smile, an encouraging word, a helping hand, or simply taking time to listen may be exactly what someone needs. Jesus didn’t just preach about love—He demonstrated it every single day. As His followers, we are called to do the same.

Take a few moments this week to reach out to a friend or a loved one. Send a text. Make a phone call. Share a cup of coffee. Ask them how they’re really doing. Sometimes the greatest ministry is simply showing someone they haven’t been forgotten.

Our world often seems filled with negativity. It’s easy to become discouraged when we focus only on the headlines, the conflicts, or the disappointments around us. But as followers of Christ, we are called to fix our eyes on what is good, honorable, and praiseworthy. Instead of dwelling on the darkness, let us become people who shine the light of Christ wherever we go. 

Let’s also make a conscious decision to be kind this week.

Kindness costs us very little, but it can mean everything to someone else. A kind word can encourage a weary heart. A patient response can calm a difficult situation. A generous act can remind someone that God sees them and cares for them.

May this also be a week marked by love, respect, and compassion.

Love people without expecting anything in return.

Respect those who think differently than you.

Show compassion to those who are hurting, struggling, or simply feeling alone.

When we live this way, we become living examples of Christ’s love.

As you begin this new week, remember that you may be the only glimpse of Jesus someone sees. Let your words bring hope. Let your actions reflect His grace. Let your heart overflow with gratitude. And wherever God leads you this week, be faithful in the little things, because God often uses small acts of obedience to accomplish extraordinary things.

May your week be filled with God’s peace, His strength, and His joy. May you walk in hope, live with purpose, and leave every person you encounter knowing they have been loved.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

Have a blessed week, and let’s go be the hands and feet of Jesus. ~OC

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Discipleship, Relationships Over Numbers

Today’s a new day! 

Over the past few years, I’ve had countless conversations with fellow Christians after church services, over coffee, in Bible studies, and during everyday life.

Different churches.

Different denominations.

Different backgrounds.

Yet one theme continues to surface again and again.

“I love my church…but I still feel alone.”

Those words have stayed with me.

These conversations haven’t come from people who are angry with the Church. Quite the opposite. They faithfully attend, faithfully give, faithfully serve, and genuinely love Jesus.

Yet many quietly admit they feel disconnected.

One friend shared, “I’ve been attending for three years, and I still don’t feel like anyone really knows me.”

Another said, “I know hundreds of faces, but I don’t have anyone I can call when life falls apart.”

Someone else confessed, “I leave encouraged by the sermon, but I still feel spiritually isolated.”

As I listened, I realized these weren’t isolated stories.

I was hearing the same longing over and over.

People aren’t asking for bigger buildings.

They’re asking for deeper relationships.

They’re not looking for more programs.

They’re longing for genuine discipleship.

It made me wonder if, in many churches, we’ve unintentionally traded disciple numbers for attendance numbers.

Attendance matters. Every person who walks through the doors is someone Christ loves deeply. Churches should celebrate every new visitor and every opportunity to share the Gospel.

But attendance has never been the ultimate mission.

Jesus didn’t say, “Go and gather crowds.”

He said, “Go and make disciples.”

Discipleship is personal.

It requires time.

It requires listening.

It requires walking through life’s joys and hardships together.

It means knowing someone’s name, hearing their story, praying over their struggles, and encouraging them to keep following Christ.

That kind of ministry can’t always happen during a Sunday morning service.

It happens in living rooms.

Around dinner tables.

In small groups.

Over coffee.

In hospital waiting rooms.

During phone calls.

Through tears.

Through prayer.

Through simply showing up for one another.

Many of the Christians I’ve spoken with aren’t criticizing their churches.

They’re grieving what they feel is missing.

They long to belong to a spiritual family, not simply attend a weekly gathering.

They want someone to notice when they’re absent.

Someone to ask how they’re doing—and genuinely wait for the answer.

Someone to help them grow in their faith.

The beautiful truth is that many churches are already pursuing this vision with humility and faithfulness. Pastors, elders, deacons, small-group leaders, and volunteers invest countless hours loving and discipling others, often without recognition.

But every church can continue asking an important question:

Are we creating disciples, or are we simply creating attendees?

Imagine what could happen if every mature believer intentionally invested in one younger believer.

Imagine if every newcomer was invited into authentic relationships instead of remaining anonymous.

Imagine if every church member saw themselves not just as someone who attends church but as someone who helps build Christ’s family.

The Church has always been at its strongest when believers walk together.

The world is filled with loneliness.

The Church should be filled with belonging.

My prayer is not that churches become less focused on reaching people.

My prayer is that we become equally passionate about walking with them after they arrive.

Because attendance may introduce someone to the Church.

But discipleship helps them become more like Jesus.

A church can fill every seat in the sanctuary and still leave people feeling alone. But when believers intentionally disciple one another, no one has to walk their journey of faith in isolation.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your Church. Help us to be more than people who gather once a week. Make us a family that loves deeply, serves faithfully, and walks alongside one another through every season of life. Give us eyes to notice those who feel unseen, hearts that welcome the lonely, and a renewed commitment to making disciples as Jesus commanded. May our churches be known not only for full sanctuaries but for lives transformed through authentic relationships centered on You. It’s in the mighty and precious name of Jesus we pray. ~OC

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Either Way I Win

In 2019, after almost eighteen years of major health battles and being told on multiple occasions that I only had hours left to live, I experienced a beautiful miracle from God.

At that point in 2019, doctors believed I only had weeks remaining. The situation looked impossible. The circumstances seemed hopeless. Yet Jesus stepped into the middle of the story and reminded me that He always has the final say.

It was a true miracle.

Since that miracle, however, my journey has not been without additional challenges. I have endured multiple serious battles with COVID and also suffered a stroke. Today, my health journey has entered its twenty-fourth year.

Over those years, countless people have prayed for my complete healing. I am deeply grateful for every prayer, every encouraging message, every act of kindness, and every person who has stood beside me during difficult seasons. Those prayers have meant more than I could ever adequately express.

But as I have prayed about my health and spent time talking with Jesus, I have found myself reflecting on this journey from a different perspective.

I think about the many patients I have met over the years.

I think about the hospital rooms.

I think about the waiting rooms.

I think about the difficult conversations.

I think about the opportunities God has given me to pray with people, encourage people, and remind people that they are not alone.

Some Christians have viewed my health journey as something negative. They have looked at the diagnoses, the treatments, the setbacks, and the ongoing battles and wondered why God has not completely removed them.

But I have never viewed my journey that way.

I have always seen it as an opportunity.

An opportunity to share the love of Jesus.

An opportunity to share the hope of Jesus.

An opportunity to remind hurting people that God is still faithful even when life is difficult.

As I think about this, I am reminded of others whom God has used powerfully despite significant challenges.

I think about the Apostle Paul, who prayed for the “removal of his thorn in the flesh”, yet God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul went on to impact the world with the Gospel despite his ongoing struggles. 

I think about Joni Eareckson Tada, whose life and testimony have inspired millions around the world.

I think about Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms and legs yet continues to share the Gospel with millions across the globe.

I think about Billy Graham, who faithfully preached Christ throughout seasons of physical weakness and aging.

I think about Eric LeGrand, whose courage and faith have encouraged countless people through adversity.

None of these individuals allowed their struggles to define them. Instead, they allowed God to use them right where they were. 

Their stories remind us that God’s power is not limited by our circumstances.

Throughout my own health journey, God has repeatedly shown me that my willingness to continue sharing the love and hope of Jesus during difficult seasons has encouraged others who are walking through storms of their own.

Sometimes we assume that our greatest ministry will happen after God removes our struggle.

But what if God wants to use us in the middle of the struggle?

What if the very battle we are asking Him to remove is the place where He is doing some of His greatest work?

What if our pain becomes a platform for His glory?

What if our scars become evidence of His faithfulness?

I still believe Jesus heals.

I still believe miracles happen.

After all, I am living proof that they do.

And maybe Jesus will choose to perform another miracle in my life on this side of Heaven.

Maybe He will completely restore every area of my health.

I certainly welcome the prayers everyone continues to pray for my healing.

But perhaps God is using this season exactly as it is.

Perhaps there are people I can reach because of this journey that I could never reach otherwise.

Perhaps there are conversations that happen because of these challenges that would never happen without them.

Perhaps Jesus has me planted exactly where He wants me.

So if God leads you, please continue praying for my healing.

But also pray that Jesus continues to use me.

Pray that I remain faithful.

Pray that I continue to encourage others.

Pray that I continue sharing His love and hope wherever He opens a door.

Because whether I receive another miracle here on earth or whether God continues to use me in the middle of this battle, my victory is already secure in Christ.

If He heals me completely here on earth, I win.

If He uses my story to bring hope to others, I win.

If He uses my struggles to point people toward Jesus, I win.

And one day, whether through healing here or perfect healing in Heaven, I will stand in the presence of my Savior completely restored.

Either way, I win.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

And that is a victory no illness can ever take away. ~OC

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Two Questions Every Christian Should Ask Themselves

Today’s a new day! 

There are two questions that have been on my heart recently, and honestly, they are questions I need to ask myself as much as anyone else.

Question #1: When someone looks at your life, would they want to be like you?

Not because we’re perfect.

Not because we have all the answers.

Not because we’ve never failed.

But when people see our lives, do they see something different? Do they see the peace of Christ in the middle of chaos? Do they see grace when others are harsh? Do they see hope when circumstances seem hopeless? Do they see a faith that remains steady when life gets difficult?

The Apostle Paul boldly wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

That is a challenging statement. Could we honestly say the same?

When people watch how we treat our spouses, our children, our neighbors, the cashier at the grocery store, or even those who disagree with us, are they seeing Jesus reflected in us?

The truth is that our lives may be the only Bible some people ever encounter. Every conversation, every action, every response to adversity is an opportunity to point people toward Christ—or away from Him.

None of us get it right all the time. I certainly don’t. But our goal should be to live in such a way that others are drawn not to us, but to the Savior living within us.

Question #2: Do you have a passion to praise and serve Jesus?

Christianity was never meant to be a once-a-week activity.

It was never meant to be a religious checkbox.

It was never meant to be a routine without relationship.

Jesus gave everything for us. He carried our sins to the Cross, conquered death through His resurrection, and offers us eternal life. How can we not respond with passionate praise and wholehearted service?

Praise isn’t just singing songs on Sunday morning. Praise is thanking God when life is good. Praise is trusting Him when life is hard. Praise is lifting His name when the diagnosis comes, when the bills pile up, when the storm refuses to leave.

Service isn’t just what happens inside church walls. Service happens when we encourage someone who is hurting. It happens when we pray for others. It happens when we meet needs, show compassion, and become the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world.

The question isn’t whether we attend church.

The question is whether our hearts burn with a love for Jesus.

Do we wake up looking for opportunities to honor Him?

Do we seek ways to serve others in His name?

Do we long to know Him more deeply today than we did yesterday?

A Personal Reflection:

As I ask these questions of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I must also ask them of myself.

When people look at my life, do they see Jesus?

Am I living in a way that inspires others to draw closer to Him?

Do I still have a passion to praise Him through every season?

Do I still have a desire to serve Him with whatever time, talents, and opportunities He has given me?

These aren’t questions meant to bring condemnation. They are questions meant to bring reflection and renewal.

Perhaps today is a good day for all of us to pause and ask God to search our hearts.

May our lives be a testimony of His goodness.

May our words point people toward His truth.

May our actions reflect His love.

And may we never lose our passion to praise and serve the One who gave everything for us.

Lord, let my life be a reflection of You. Help me live in such a way that others see Jesus in me. Rekindle my passion to praise You, serve You, and follow You faithfully every day. Amen. ~OC

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SURRENDER

Here is a acronym I created for the word S.U.R.R.E.N.D.E.R.

S – Seek God first in all things
U – Understand that His ways are higher than ours
R – Rest in His promises during every season
R – Rely on His strength instead of your own
E – Embrace His grace and mercy each day
N – Nurture your faith through prayer and Scripture
D – Deny yourself and take up your cross daily
E – Encourage others with the love of Christ
R – Remain faithful until the end

Faith Journey Reflection:

SURRENDER is not giving up—it is giving everything over to God. It is seeking Him, trusting Him, relying on His strength, and remaining faithful as He leads us step by step on our journey of faith.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 

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Living Out Your Faith At Work

As we start a new week, I wanted to share something that is on my heart: living out your faith at your job.

For many believers, it is easy to think of faith as something that only happens on Sunday mornings. We worship, pray, read our Bibles, and fellowship with other believers. Yet God never intended our faith to be limited to a church building. Our faith is meant to be lived out everywhere we go, including our workplace.

Whether you work in an office, a school, a hospital, a construction site, a retail store, or from your home, your job is a mission field. Every day, God places people in your path who may never step foot inside a church but who can witness the love of Christ through your life.

Living out your faith at work does not always mean preaching a sermon to your coworkers. Sometimes it means showing integrity when no one is watching. It means treating others with kindness when they are difficult to love. It means refusing to participate in gossip, dishonesty, or negativity. It means being dependable, trustworthy, and giving your best effort because you are ultimately working for the Lord.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” What a powerful perspective! Our work becomes an act of worship when we do it with excellence and gratitude unto God.

There will be days when your patience is tested. There will be moments when coworkers, customers, or supervisors challenge you. In those moments, your response may speak louder than any words you could ever say. The peace you display in the middle of pressure, the grace you extend when others are harsh, and the hope you carry during difficult times can point people directly to Jesus.

Remember, you may be the only Bible some people ever read. Your attitude, your character, and your actions can open doors for conversations about faith that would otherwise never happen.

As this new week begins, ask the Lord to help you shine His light wherever He has planted you. Pray for your coworkers. Pray for your supervisors. Pray for those you serve. Ask God to give you opportunities to encourage someone, to speak life into someone who is struggling, and to represent Christ well in everything you do.

You do not have to stand behind a pulpit to make an eternal impact. God can use your desk, your work truck, your classroom, your job site, or your office as a platform for His glory.

This week, go to work with purpose. Walk in integrity. Serve with excellence. Love people well. And let the light of Jesus shine through you so brightly that others are drawn to Him.

May this be a week where your faith is not just something you believe, but something you boldly and lovingly live out every day.

Be blessed, and have an incredible week serving Jesus wherever He has placed you. ~OC

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Lessons Found In Suffering

Today’s a new day! If we’re being honest, suffering is not fun. None of us wake up in the morning and say, “I hope I suffer today.” We don’t ask for pain, hardship, sickness, loss, or trials. We naturally seek comfort, peace, and stability.

Yet suffering has a way of finding all of us.

As I have walked through my own health journey, I have come to a simple conclusion: if I have to walk through suffering, I am going to do it with Jesus by my side.

The reality is that suffering can either draw us closer to God or push us away from Him. We can become bitter, or we can become better. We can focus solely on our pain, or we can allow God to use that pain to shape us into the people He is calling us to be.

While I would never choose suffering, I have discovered that some of life’s greatest lessons are learned in the valleys, not on the mountaintops.

In the difficult seasons, we learn dependence. We learn patience. We learn endurance. We learn that God’s presence is often most real when everything else around us seems uncertain. The fruit that grows during suffering is often fruit that could not have grown any other way.

One of the greatest examples of this is found in Acts chapter 7.

Stephen, a faithful follower of Christ, was falsely accused and brought before religious leaders. He boldly proclaimed the truth of God’s Word and testified about Jesus. His reward was not comfort, applause, or promotion. Instead, he faced persecution and ultimately martyrdom.

As stones were thrown at him, Stephen displayed something remarkable. Rather than responding with hatred, he responded with grace. Rather than seeking revenge, he prayed for those who were attacking him. Scripture tells us that he looked into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.

Even in the middle of unimaginable suffering, Stephen’s eyes remained fixed on Jesus.

What a powerful lesson for us today.

Our suffering may look different. It may be a health battle, financial hardship, broken relationships, grief, disappointment, or uncertainty about the future. Yet the same principle remains true: when our eyes stay fixed on Jesus, suffering does not have the final word.

God often does some of His deepest work in our lives during our hardest seasons.

The suffering we face today may be producing a stronger faith tomorrow. It may be teaching us compassion for others. It may be preparing us for a ministry we never imagined. It may be revealing God’s faithfulness in ways we would never have recognized otherwise.

I would never say I enjoy suffering. I don’t.

But I can say this: when suffering comes, I want to walk through it with Jesus.

Because sometimes the sweetest moments of God’s presence, the greatest growth in our character, and the most valuable lessons of our lives are found right in the middle of the struggle.

If you are suffering today, don’t walk through it alone. Lean into Christ. Talk to Him. Trust Him. Hold on to Him.

Like Stephen, keep your eyes on Jesus.

The suffering may be real, but so is the Savior who walks beside you through it. ~OC

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Until Then…

Today’s a new day! 

There are moments in life when God does not call us to speak louder, work harder, or create more. Instead, He calls us into stillness. Into quiet places where our hearts can rest, heal, listen, and be renewed in His presence.

I believe God is leading me into one of those seasons now.

As Laura and I step into this new adventure and begin this new chapter of our lives, I feel the Lord calling me into a season of silence and reflection. Because of that, I will not be sharing any new blog posts, spoken words, or music for a time. This is not a goodbye, but rather a pause — a sacred moment to step away from the noise and spend intentional time in prayer, rest, and seeking the heart of God.

Throughout Scripture, we see God drawing His people away before leading them forward. Moses spent time in the wilderness. Elijah heard God in the gentle whisper. Jesus Himself often withdrew to lonely places to pray. There is something holy about stepping back long enough to hear God clearly again.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Right now, I believe this is my time to be silent.

Silence can feel uncomfortable in a world that constantly demands content, opinions, and activity. Yet sometimes the greatest spiritual growth happens away from the spotlight, in hidden places where only God sees. It is in those quiet moments that He reshapes our hearts, renews our strength, and reminds us who we are apart from what we produce.

I do not know everything God has in store on the other side of this season, but I am excited to discover it. I trust that His plans are good, even when the path ahead is uncertain. This move, this transition, and this pause all feel covered in His peace.

To everyone who has read my writings, listened to my music, encouraged me, prayed for me, or walked alongside me on this journey — thank you. Your kindness and support have meant more than words can express.

As I step away for this season, my prayer for each of you is simple:

May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds.
May His blessings overflow in your homes and families.
May you hear His voice clearly in every season.
And may you never forget that even in silence, God is still moving.

I look forward to seeing what the Lord will do next.

Until then, grace and peace to each of you. ~OC

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A Look Into 26.2

Today’s a new day!

There’s something powerful about the number 26.2.

For runners, it represents the full distance of a marathon — a journey that stretches the body, tests the mind, and reveals what’s truly inside a person. Nobody accidentally finishes 26.2 miles. It takes endurance, perseverance, discipline, and the willingness to keep moving even when every step feels heavy.

In many ways, the Christian life feels a lot like a marathon.

There are moments when faith feels effortless — when the sun is shining, prayers are being answered, and God’s blessings seem to overflow at every turn. But there are also difficult miles. The lonely miles. The exhausting miles. The stretches where you wonder if you can keep going.

Yet through every mile of life, God offers something the world cannot give: His peace.

Jesus said in The Gospel of John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”

That kind of peace is not dependent on circumstances. It is not tied to comfort, finances, success, or ease. God’s peace shows up in the middle of the race — when your legs are weak, your heart is tired, and you feel like stopping.

Anyone who has ever run a marathon knows there is usually a moment called “hitting the wall.” It’s the point where exhaustion crashes into you physically and mentally. Suddenly the finish line feels impossibly far away. For me, the wall always came at mile nineteen. I had to dig deep to keep moving forward.

Life has walls too.

Maybe it’s grief.
Maybe it’s uncertainty.
Maybe it’s a season of waiting.
Maybe it’s prayers that seem unanswered.
Maybe it’s carrying burdens nobody else sees.

But God specializes in strengthening weary runners.

The Book of Isaiah reminds us:

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.”

Notice that Scripture does not say believers will never get tired. It says God renews us in the middle of the race.

That is one of the greatest blessings of following Jesus — we were never meant to run alone.

At mile 5 of life, He is with us.
At mile 13, He is with us.
At mile 20, when everything hurts, He is still with us.
And at mile 26.2, when we finally cross the finish line, He is waiting with open arms.

God’s blessings are not always flashy or loud. Sometimes His greatest blessings look like:

  • Peace during chaos
  • Strength during weakness
  • Hope during heartbreak
  • Joy during uncertainty
  • Rest in the middle of exhaustion

Those blessings sustain us for the long run.

A marathon runner learns quickly that the race is not won in a sprint. It is won through consistency — one faithful step at a time. The same is true spiritually. Faith is built daily. Prayer by prayer. Step by step. Moment by moment.

Some days your pace may feel strong.
Other days you may barely move forward.

But if you are still walking with Jesus, you are still in the race.

And here’s the beautiful thing about God’s grace: He is not standing at the finish line condemning exhausted runners. He runs beside us. He strengthens us. He carries us when necessary. His peace becomes the oxygen for weary souls.

The Christian life is not about running perfectly.
It is about running faithfully.

So wherever you are in your “26.2 miles” today, remember this:

God sees every step.
He hears every prayer.
He knows every struggle.
And His peace is available for every mile ahead.

Keep running.
Keep trusting.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

The finish line will be worth it. ~OC

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