Run YOUR race.

Every year on my birthday, I ask myself a few questions. (If you are my friend, you know I also ask them to you on your birthday as well.) The first one is, “What are my top three favorite memories from this past year?” It allows me to reminisce, but also take note of what meant the most to me the previous year. There is something about being reflective that helps to ground and guide me into the next year. My second question is, “What are three things I hope to do in this upcoming year?” This helps me to be proactive about goal setting, but also to remember every year is a GIFT and that we are called to be stewards of our time here on Earth. What better way than to be intentional about planning our time? I mean, people steward money by utilizing a budget to help them invest in the correct place. I believe we can transfer that concept and apply it to our time, helping us to invest it into the right people and tasks. The last question I ask is one that many may believe should be the very first question, but just hold on. I’ll explain. I ask God, “What do you have for me in this next year?” I intentionally place this one at the end for a couple reasons. First, by telling God what I want, my heart is transparent before Him. I am honest. He wants to hear my deepest cries and listens to them intently. Then, I open my ears to listen to Him. When He speaks, it helps me to see how the desires of my heart and His plan for my year align and differ. It gives me a gauge to measure how far away our paths may be and the work we need to do to get me on His track and not my track.

This year, when I asked God what He has for me in this next year (the last year of my twenties!), He responded, “Run YOUR race.” He gave me the verse Hebrews 12: 1-2 (MSG),

Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.

I think so often our eyes are not on Jesus. Our eyes are actually on everything BUT Jesus. We are looking at our friend who already got promoted or our co-worker who just got engaged or the friend who is older than you who had a healthy baby on the first try or the couple who just bought a massive house or the college buddy who’s gallivanting all over the world or the mom who cooks only with organic food… thinking, “Why is that not me?” or “Why am I here and they are there?” You see, we have lost our focus. We have turned from asking God what He has for us to comparing our lives to the people around us. Newsflash: They have a different race. More than likely, they aren’t even on the same TRACK as you.

As a {semi} newlywed, I have learned this not only applies to individuals, but also to Jeremy and I as a couple. Let me tell you, our first year of marriage doesn’t look like the textbook. We have two children who live with us in different intervals. We have changed careers. We have started school. We have been unemployed {at the same time}. The list could go on and on, but the point is – Jeremy and I have had a choice to make: compare our life with that of others or ask God what our race looks like and never lose sight of where He has us headed. I would love to tell you I learned this after one comparison with another person or couple. Ha. It’s a daily encounter with God that reminds me of who I am, who Jeremy and I are together, and what road He has us traveling down to get to the place He wants.

So why do we choose to compare our lives with the lives of others around us?

1. We do not know our identity in Christ. We are made fearfully and wonderfully, uniquely made in His image. We {and our lives} were not made to look like our neighbor or co-worker or best friend or other couple. Ask God who you are so in moments when you look at others and feel lacking, you can quickly remind yourself of what God says.
2. People are easier to see. They are all around us from the moment we wake up until the moment our head hits the pillow. We are human and seeing God often requires us to be still, which we are not so great at doing… because there are people all around us. You see the circle we can get into? Break the cycle. Sit down with God away from people and ask Him what He thinks about your life. 
3. Social media allows us to see other people’s lives easier than ever before. And the majority of folks post happy moments, not the REAL moments, myself included. Who really wants to hear about the meltdown BEFORE the pumpkin patch? They want to see the kids smiling with orange all around them! Try taking a break from the Instagram.

Three years ago today, my friend and I ran the Marine Corps Marathon. I look back on that memory and think, “All I can remember was trying to keep my feet moving and getting to the finish line so I could sit down to have some chocolate milk.” God says, “Yup, you got the concept. Keep persevering and getting closer to me so you can sit down beside me at my right hand {with chocolate milk if you like}.” So this year, I will run MY race and I encourage you to do the same. Run YOUR race. I know there will be so many blessings to count along the way!