This was something I came to understand personally a few years ago upon completing an exceptionally hard 100-mile race (they're all hard, but this particular one was one of the hardest and longest). After more than 28 hours of what felt like a continuous uphill battle, I finally made it to the finish line where my husband was waiting anxiously for me. "Oh honey," he said to me as we embraced and I began to cry. "You're really leaning to the side. Are you okay?"
And thankfully I was okay. Later, however, I went back and looked at the finish line video and pictures my husband had taken. Sure enough, I was leaning heavily to the right side and walking in a way that was totally unnatural and, quite honestly, looked painful--hence the reason my husband was so concerned. The funny part though was, although it was obvious to those looking at me that I had "the leans," the condition had happened so slowly that I had not even perceived I had it. In fact, I actually thought I was completely upright!
And while "the leans" aren't very common, they aren't necessarily uncommon either. Most of the experienced ultrarunners I've met have had them at least once or twice and have all said that, they too, didn't feel them coming on. This was a phenomena I watched at the Snowdrop Ultra I had the blessing of running over the New Year's Holiday last week. The unique course (which was a .7 mile loop) allowed for runners to see one another countless times throughout the race since those going for the 100 mile buckle (like myself) would have to complete 143 laps.
Over the course of twenty plus hours and many laps, I watched as two of the runners who started the race upright alongside me eventually developed "the leans." It was a gradual leaning that caused me to consider the words of Solomon who said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding..." You see, in the same way it takes a strong core to keep a runner upright, it takes a rock-strong and complete trust in the Lord to keep a believer upright.
"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9
Here's the thing. Most of us have a desperate desire to understand why God does certain things or allows certain things to happen. After all, we're still in the flesh. To stay upright, then, we must trust God completely with undivided hearts, acknowledging that He works all things for His good purpose in ways we were never meant to understand or comprehend. After all, His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
Which means, we must fully submit to God’s ways, even when we can’t make sense of them--recognizing that God sees the whole picture, while we only see our tiny corner of it. To trust in the Lord with all our hearts, then, means we can’t place our own right to understand above His right to direct our lives the way He sees fit. To do so is the equivalent of leaning on a faulty crutch of our own making. It might seem fine to lean on our own perception or crutch at first, thus justifying going our own way, but eventually the crutch will be worn down and we will find ourselves off course and leaning farther out of God's will than we ever wanted.
So, choose to trust in the Lord with all your heart my friend. In a world where truth is relative and changing, choosing to trust in the One who never changes and has a proven track record of working all things for our good and for His glory will keep you upright and on course.
Heavenly Father, thank You for such a visual reminder that we are so apt to go off course without even realizing it when we lean on our own understanding rather than yours. Lord, help us to acknowledge your sovereignty over all things that we would allow You to direct our paths. In all things Lord, teach us to submit our ways to You especially when we don't understand. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
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