I love the opportunity to bring another voice, another perspective, another heart to My Race to Run… it’s one of my greatest joys! This month’s guest blog is brought to you by Kim Menne, a dear friend of mine. I’ve been getting to know Kim over the last year or so, and she has become like a big sister to me. She inspires me with her kindness and thoughtfulness, and she is a true encouragement to me. I pray that you are strengthened by her words and insight today!

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LEAP by Kim Menne

“But those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not be weary. They will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

I find magic in creating a list and crossing the items off the list… seeing things that need done, finished. I have always been a planner, a list person. I love crossing something off of a list and seeing my to-do list dwindle. So, what do I do even when I have to make a life-changing decision but to make a list numbered 1 through 10. I was so excited I could actually see that this may even work out. Hmmm. Okay, time to get started.

Number one, two, and three crossed off rather easily. I go to step four which was not going as planned… not only not going as planned, but taking even longer than I anticipated. I glanced over the list and decide that I could accomplish number seven and number ten, which I did with ease and again got to cross off more of my list. I decided I better go back to number four because that is rather important to the final result. Again, number four was not going well. In fact, chaos ensued. Anxiety was high. Patience was low. My mind could not make any sense.

That night as my head hit the pillow, I cried out to God that this was too hard. What You have asked me to do is not going smoothly. I think I misunderstood. God would not put me in chaos. As I prayed that night, I heard God whisper “ORDER”.

“But all things should be done decently and in order.” – 1 Corinthians 14:40

I then realized that I did not pray prior to making my list. I did not pray when I crossed off number 1, 2, and 3. I didn’t pray when I skipped to number 7 and 10. I realized by not praying and by not going in order, I did not wait for God’s timing and that is why there was chaos all around me in my mind, heart and spirit. Even my physical body was in pain.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.” – Psalm 27:14

Things were still not going as planned. I prayed and then I heard Pastor Dawn Williams from Liberty Church in Williamsport, PA. She was speaking the Sunday before Leap Day. The word LEAP would not leave my mind. She talked about leaping, leaping out in faith… not a hop or a short jump but leaping outward in great faith without having any idea how or where you were going to land.

The next day, I could not find my list. I searched frantically. I found it at the bottom of my
purse, crumpled in a ball. As I tried to straighten out the list, I heard God tell me to the throw the list away. I am like, “What???? No way???? I can’t do this without a list, without a plan. What about order???? Okay, God, I am leaping. I am throwing the list to the wind and taking that incredible, scary, exciting, downright terrifying leap.” Closing my eyes with no idea how things would even come together, I leaped. Even leaping, I knew there were going to be storms in the process, but I literally said out loud, “God I am leaping in fear.”

What are you afraid of? Financial insecurity, illness, your children’s future, loneliness, death? Name your fears; write them down. Guess what? God already knows all your fears. He is just waiting for you to have faith and LEAP.

Picture God as a cave, protected from all elements. In the cave, you can hear the storms outside. The cave does not lessen the intensity of the storm. It does not silence the thunder or cease the lightning or keep the rain from falling. The cave provides a place of peace even when the storm is swirling all around. You are safe in God’s cave created especially for you and best of all, He is in the cave with you. Savor His presence. God sees you, knows you, and promises never to leave you. God has already gone before you and has prepared the way. He is just waiting for you to LEAP.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave your nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6