Yesterday I did something I had never done before. I drove to the beach and decided to run on the boardwalk. Actually, it was more walking than running, but it felt good at the start. I somehow didn’t remember how long the boardwalk was, and just started at the point I entered. I got to the end not very long after starting, so I looped around and continued. My goal was to make it all the way to the other end. I seemed to keep going and going and going, and not even seeing where the end was. On the way back, it was pretty much the same. I started wondering when would I ever make it back to the point I had entered. Somewhere along the line, I saw the sign for the length, it was 2.2 miles. Because I started in the direction I did, I did close to 4.4 miles, and it took me just over an hour, a record of distance and time for me.
Today, I came back again. But after yesterday, my body was tired, but I was determined to do a similar track. I started slowly, and somewhere after walking the first two miles, I was able to incorporate some running. For some reason, today did not seem as long as yesterday, even though I actually took longer today. I added about 3 minutes to my time from yesterday, but my goal was to complete it, which I did.
What’s the difference you might ask of why yesterday felt so much longer? I didn’t know where I was going or how far I had to go. Today, I came with an expectancy of doing the boardwalk like I did yesterday, I was going to complete about 4.4 miles, I had a better idea of where it will end, and approximately how long it would take.
I think it’s similar with God. When we are just starting out with Him, we don’t quite know what to expect, so things feel like they are taking a long time, failing to realize that it’s all been planned out. The more we walk, talk and spend time in His presence, the more we come to know what to expect, even if the time is not our own. But we starting living in an expectant state, knowing that He’s leading and directing us.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for quiet moments where we can reflect on your goodness. Lord, help us to become so familiar with you and your unfailing love that our first instinct is to trust you, no matter what the circumstances may seem in front of us.