The primary reason I started running was to lose weight. Women who reach … a certain age … often take their fat cells (many times joined with a few more) with them to the grave. Unless something drastic changes it. Additionally, I had gestational diabetes with my son, bumping me into a higher risk group for developing Type II diabetes. Keeping my weight inline keeps me from jumping yet another notch higher on that risk scale.
To date, since July 2009, I have lost exactly ZERO pounds. None. Sigh.
But I was shocked when I had some bloodwork done. In that same timeframe, my cholesterol dropped 21 points. I wasn't even working on that.
What does this have to do with running your race? Often God works with us in areas we don't expect, don't realize, and He brings about results that glorify Him we never imagined.
- We pray for a family member for years, but nothing happens. Except our kids see what persevering faith is.
- We teach a roomful of kids in Sunday school or VBS, and see no growth. Except 20 years later, a young adult comes back to church, and changes the course of his family's life.
- We go sit in worship services week after week and feel like we don't contribute. Except the preacher knows he can count on you to be there.
So, don't measure your progress on some limited, temporary number. God measures results on an eternal, multidimensional scale. He says even a cup of water given in His name won't go unnoticed.
Keep running. Great things are happening.
(P.S. – To the folks who get the posts by email – I apologize for that big obnoxious logo in the Tuesday post/Wednesday email. Hopefully it's fixed now.)
Lauren says
I think that's pretty interesting…the way God works in ways we never really expected. It's especially cool when you see it after the fact and realize that even though this area didn't change, this other area did.
Thanks for the post!
(Oh, the logo was just fine via e-mail today)