I have been thinking a lot about running lately. This is probably due to the fact that I have actually been running more frequently these last few weeks in preparation for a a half marathon in Cumbria. For me, this is one of the cool things about living in Teesside: I get to throw on my running shoes, go out, and explore cool areas of the northeast of England. It is beautiful here- both in what the naked eye can and cannot see.
Here are a few pictures off my phone to give you a tiny taste of that beauty (it runs much much deeper that these simple photos, i assure you):
Running. It is always an intimate time with my Father.
I ran my 10-mile long run yesterday, and honestly, the last two miles were the hardest. This was not necessarily because I was physically tired. God created our human bodies with the capability to run faster and farther than we can dare to imagine- if only we believe it. I think the last two miles of my run were hard because quite frankly, all I wanted to do was to mentally check out and cruise. I battled the inner voice that told me to just relax and walk the last two miles because I had already run an 8-mile distance that was already “good enough." I battled the voice that reminded me of the bad week I had last week- the voice that told me to settle for the 8 miles instead of the 10 that I had originally set out to run because surely, I was too out of shape to run the full 10 miles.
Looking back at the last two years of my life, I now believe that God called me to serve him and to live life with the Tees Valley Youth for Christ gap year program for two years. Things might have seemed a little murky and uncertain at times, but I now see what He had called me to all along. My 1 year and 10 month mark is coming around the corner. And today, at the “mile 8 mark” so to speak, I fight the temptation to mentally check out and cruise.
At the end of the day though, my heart’s desire is to run hard to the finish line (whatever that might look like)- for the Lord to pour every last drop out of me as a drink offering unto Him. Not for myself or for other people. But for my God’s great glory. Because He is worthy of all of my praise and of all of my life. There is still much work to do. The harvest is plentiful here in Teesside. Will you keep me accountable? Will you join us and pray for our team here?
I pray that, by the grace of God, this verse in Acts 20:24 will be true for me with my remaining time here in England, for my teammates who have just begun an exciting new chapter of their lives with the gap year program, and for you who might be considering this call. Hey, do you want to run 10 miles with us in the UK? God will blow your socks off with His great love and It’s totz worth it.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)
About the Author
RACHEL HU
Los Angeles, CA | 25
PROJECT: Stockton
Rachel attended University of California Berkeley to study architecture. After working at an architecture firm in Los Angeles for a year and a half, she felt God call her to move to the UK to serve him in full-time ministry with YFC.
