Killing Me Stronger

During the last mile of my Saturday training run, I experienced a very rare occurrence.  My legs stopped pushing.  They were rebelling against me.  I had nothing left in my tank.  I hit the wall, that mythical and invisible force that sneaks in out of nowhere and drains you of all energy.

During that final mile, I came upon a little old lady who was power walking.  Her arms were swaying back and forth wildly.  Her short little legs were making short little strides.  There was purpose in her every step.

My intentions were to pass her but the wall had done its job well and my legs were unresponsive.

So there we were, cruising at the same pace.  Side by side.  I in my black running shorts and she in her big pink visor, awkwardly staring at one another.  The only other difference between us at that moment was that she was living…  and I was dying.  She was on a mountain top and I was in the valley of death.

During those long runs, you are literally killing yourself.  Your heart is being pushed to the limit.  The muscles in your legs are being torn apart, one microscopic piece at a time.  Your body is being broken down.

But you survive and enter the recovery process.  The muscles rebuild.  Your heart and lungs adapt and become stronger.  The next run is easier and each one after that takes less and less effort.

All because what hasn’t killed you, has made you stronger.

Such as life.

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Running mirrors life in many ways.  There are peaks and valleys.  Some days you have it and some days you don’t.  There are days that you have energy to spare and then there are those days that you want to stop where you are and sit down and pout.

We enter these killer valleys in life unwillingly.  If we had a choice we would stay on those mountain tops and enjoy the view, breathing in the fresh air.

But its in the valley where our strength is really built.  It’s here that we learn and adapt.  We grow in these valleys so that we can shine on the peaks.

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”  -  1 Peter 5:10

The next time you are in one of those killer valleys, remember that it is here that you are being perfected and strengthened.  There is a means and a purpose to it all.  God has a plan for you.

And while you are in this valley, always remember that the road to the top is just around the corner.