If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my many years of following the Lord, it’s that He will go to great lengths to put believers in the right place at the right time to be a part of His awesome plan, whether for our good, for the good of someone else, or both. And that is exactly the place I found myself in on Saturday.
I had signed up for the hundred mile race at Pumpkin Holler in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, but it soon became apparent that, although this was my plan, this was not God's plan for the day. After a series of events led me to drop down to the 50k distance and run the opposite direction of the finish line to meet up with my husband who was also out on the course (and had started later due to the different start times for the different distances), I began to get excited. “Lord, I know there’s a reason for all this. And I trust You.”
And this is where it gets good…. Not only did I find my husband but I found that my dear friend, Lacey (pictured above with my sweet Larry and me), was walking with him. As God would have it, a lingering stomach bug had caused her to become sick to the point that she debated on dropping out completely, until she saw my husband (who was having some hip pain) and the two linked up, appreciating the unexpected and much needed encouragement of one another. To say I was thrilled when I saw them both would be an understatement!
As Lacey and I walked and talked, I soon began to understand why God had intersected our paths in such a way that it could only be attributed to His hand. We began to discuss how our relationship with running had drastically changed over the years as we had broken free from our cycles of abuse and no longer needed the coping mechanism that had bordered on the edge of obsession.
She explained how hard-core she was when we met more than a decade ago, running to keep her sanity and escape from a home life that was nearly identical to mine. We laughed at how alike we were years ago! So much so that I found myself saying over and over again, “I felt like I was the only one!” And she said the same. And let me tell you, we both came away from that run with a renewed outlook on the changes we were going through, and a newfound peace with what had become our new “normal.”
But that’s the power of understanding that you’re not alone. Which begs the question… Have you ever felt like you were the only one struggling?
Maybe that you were or are the only one dealing with a difficult marriage? The only one grieving the loss of someone you love? The only one battling depression, anxiety, financial problems, or a situation that seems completely hopeless?
And have you ever looked around at everyone else and thought, "Why does everyone seem to have it all together except me?" If so, you're not alone. In fact, one of the greatest prophets in the Bible felt the very same way.
In 1 Kings 19, we find Elijah running for his life after Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. What's interesting is that this happened immediately after one of the greatest victories of his ministry. In 1 Kings 18, God had demonstrated His power by sending fire from heaven in response to Elijah's prayer. Yet, just one chapter later, Elijah was afraid, exhausted, discouraged, and ready to give up.
In fact, he was so overwhelmed that he asked God to take his life. Elijah eventually found himself in a cave, where God asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:9 NKJV).
Elijah responded by explaining how faithfully he had served God, how the Israelites had rejected God's covenant, and how the prophets had been killed. Then he said something that revealed just how isolated he felt.
"I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." — 1 Kings 19:10 NKJV
But here's the thing. Elijah wasn't alone. He just thought he was. God revealed that there were still seven thousand people in Israel who had not bowed down to Baal. Seven thousand people who remained faithful to Him!
Can you imagine Elijah's surprise? While he was hiding in a cave, believing he was the only one left standing for God, there were thousands of others who were faithfully serving the same Lord.
And isn't that just like us sometimes?
We get so focused on our own problems that we begin to believe nobody else could possibly understand what we're going through, much less be going through it themselves. We see other people's “happy” marriages, smiling families, successful careers, and seemingly perfect lives and assume that we're the only ones struggling.
But what we don't see are the tears shed behind closed doors, the prayers whispered in the middle of the night, the marriages being held together by faith, and the people who are fighting battles nobody knows about.
The truth is, we are never as alone in our struggles as we sometimes feel. And that's exactly why it's so important that we share not only our victories but also our struggles with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Galatians 6:2 tells us, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (NKJV).
But how can we bear one another's burdens if we don't know what those burdens are?
When we pretend that everything is fine, we may unintentionally cause someone else to believe they're the only one struggling. But when we're willing to be vulnerable and share how God has carried us through difficult seasons, we give others hope that He can carry them through theirs as well.
Think about that for a moment. Your testimony of surviving an abusive marriage, overcoming an addiction, walking through grief, or finding peace in the middle of uncertainty might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today. Not because you had the strength to overcome it on your own, but because God was faithful when you didn't have the strength to keep going.
So if you're going through something difficult today, remember Elijah my friend. Remember that even a mighty prophet of God experienced fear, exhaustion, and discouragement. And remember that although Elijah thought he was alone, God had already preserved seven thousand others.
You may not see them, but there are people around you who understand your pain because they've walked a similar road. And there are people who need to hear your story because they're walking that road right now. Don't let your struggles convince you that you're alone, and don't let your victories remain untold.
Share your burdens. Share your testimony. Encourage one another. And above all, point people to the God who carried you through.
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. God, please cause us to understand that the enemy wants us to think we were alone so that we question Your love for us. Help us to also understand that You were always with us, that Your faithfulness would cause us to be bold in sharing our stories so that others could also experience Your great love and faithfulness. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
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