Look at the bright side

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:13

Last Wednesday Ultrarunner Kim McCoy, a labor and delivery nurse at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, was 270 miles into the 340-mile Last Annual Heart of the South (HOTS) road race in Huntsville, Ala when she was struck by a car and rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately Kim suffered an injury that resulted in the amputation of her right leg above the knee, as well as multiple arm fractures. McCoy’s sister, Jessica, wrote on Facebook. “As an ultra runner, Kim knows what it is like to face down a long and challenging road, and I know she has the heart and the grit to make a full recovery. When I spoke with her this morning, she was even joking about how she might be able to get into the Boston Marathon through the Achilles Track Club, and how she might be able to find a right-legged ‘sole mate’ to split the cost of running shoes with.” 

And while Kim undoubtedly has a long road ahead of her, it's awesome to see that she is looking at the bright side of things. I mean she can't change what happened right? Unfortunately though, the majority of people in the same situation would have chosen to feel sorry for themselves; something that would have only made them miserable. In fact, the Bible tells us that "heartache crushes the spirit." And if heartache can be defined as great sorrow or anguish caused by the loss of someone or something, we would do well to remember two things... this life is not all there is and the Lord will always be by our side. Continually bringing those two promises to mind will give us the "happy heart" to get through any trial with a smile on our face.

So no matter what difficulties, setbacks or problems you might be facing today or will face in the future, look upward rather than inward my friend. Doing so will not only keep your eyes on Jesus but will keep your eyes off your present troubles — troubles that will one day, when we are in the presence of the Lord, be forgotten. Until then, keep a smile on your face and choose to look at the bright side of things. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for promising to be with us when the troubles and trials of this life threaten to crush our spirits beyond repair. Thank You for being our place of refuge; a place that we can count on to always be there. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!! 

Refuge - Finding Favour