Isaiah 41:13

After going through a day of goodbyes and looking to a future of new beginnings and uncertainty, this verse seems just the thing for this month.

Isaiah 41:13 ~ "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

Graduating college today brought about fears for the future. Saying goodbye to best friends and family left me feeling slightly alone and extremely sad. But then I come to this verse, and I am given a promise. A promise that God is holding on to me. He commands me to not fear, for he will help me. Do not fear.

Despite the fact that I have no idea what my future holds, God will help me. Despite the fact that I will be away from my comfort zone, God will help me. And despite the fact that it can feel lonely at times, God will help me. And therefore, I will not fear.

My four-year run

Going for a run has its good and bad moments. In the beginning, you feel fresh and excited for what lies ahead of you. Your legs feel light, your breathing comes easily and your feet happily pound the pavement beneath you.

Then comes the exercise-induced asthma. Your body, once excited to be on the move, wonders why your legs are still pumping and why you are putting your heart through this torture.

This feeling does not last, thankfully. Pretty soon, you hit your stride, and your confidence comes back for round two. Everything feels wonderful until the exhaustion takes hold—for real this time. This is simply not fair. Your body cannot take this back and forth of confidence then fatigue, energy then weakness. You cannot go another step. Your heart is about to beat out of your chest and the sweat rolls down your forehead faster than you can wipe it out of your eyes.

And then you see it. Your goal. The light at the end of the tunnel. At that moment, you know you can complete this run. It’s a sprint to the finish line.

I have been on a run for the past four years. When I first stepped onto Liberty University’s campus as a freshman, I felt exhilarated and excited for where this path would take me. With each semester, moments of confidence and moments of exhaustion came hand in hand. There were times when I felt as if I could sprint the entire way, while other days, all I could do was keep my head down and keep running.

Now that the finish line is not only in sight, but it’s also a few strides away, I cannot believe how far I have run. The feeling of accomplishment builds with each step, but the memories of the different paths I took to arrive here overwhelm me. And I know, beyond all doubt, that the only way I made it this far was from the strength of Jesus Christ. Each time I stumbled, every time I began taking the wrong path, he restored my balance and my sense of direction.

As I cross the finish line and receive my diploma May 10, my run at Liberty will officially conclude. The evenings spent playing Frisbee, the countless hours working in the Champion office or studying, the late nights talking with friends—these will all be a thing of the past. I could easily say how bittersweet this all feels, which would be true, but I must admit that an excitement for my next run has taken hold, and I look back on these four years with a sense of accomplishment, not sadness.

While I may ache for a short time after this run finishes, I know I am stronger as a result of it all. The bumps and bruises I received along the way prove that I fought my way through even when it hurt. Thankfully, I took in the sights and sounds around me as I ran, stopping to watch the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains every now and then.  

Now, I look back and encourage those still running with a piece of cliché advice, but one that holds true nonetheless. While it may seem as if the end will never come, and a moment arrives when your lungs burn with each breath followed closely by a moment when you pick up momentum as you glide down a hill, remember for whom you are running. Yes, there are moments for crying and moments for laughter, but each one was given to you for the purpose of giving it back in praise to our God. Then, you will not only cross the finish line, but you will cross with joy and with your hands raised in accomplishment and in praise.

Zephaniah 3:17

I've always thought about how we are made to worship our King. We are made to rejoice in his presence and glorify his name, counting it all joy. Recently, however, I read this verse, and it revealed to me another aspect of God's character.

Zephaniah 3:17 ~ "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

It was this second sentence that caught my attention. The Creator of the universe, the God who parted the waters of the sea, the God who appeared to Paul–he takes delight in me. He takes delight in me. And he shows this delight by singing over me. 

Am I not the one who is supposed to be singing praises to him? And yet he showers me with his song. Each day, I wake up to this serenade in the form of a sunrise. His song continues to shower me with each breath I take. The notes of his song surround me with every blessing he lovingly gives me as a token of his love. 

Why do I find cause to complain? What could I possibly find in my day to push back at God, saying, "I don't want this blessing. Stop singing your love for me." Doesn't really make sense, does it? But that's exactly what we do when we find something to frustrate us. When we give in to the complaints, to the worries, to the anger, to the stress. 

Don't close your ears to God's ever-present song. Take each blessing from him, knowing he desires to quiet your sinful reactions to life with his love. He wants to rejoice over his creation–you–through song. Because he delights in you.