This past Saturday I rolled out of bed as the sun was rising into the morning sky. Mornings have become my favorite time of day. I love the sense of peace in my home, the quiet that only comes with my sweet babies sleeping peacefully in their beds. It's my time to be me and to spend time with God. This morning, I laced up my running shoes, grabbed my fuel belt and headphones and stepped out the door for my long run. It had been 2 solid months since running outdoors and I was a little nervous as to how I would do. I had 6 miles to tackle and I wasn't quite sure how I'd accomplish it. Running can be a challenge, but it's also my therapy. However, this specific run took a turn for the rough early in. I had a difficult time finding my groove, my lungs were burning and my legs felt as heavy as lead. It was in that moment that thoughts started racing through my mind: "April, this is what happens when you don't run outdoors for 2 1/2 months. You are never going to be able to get to where you need to be by race day where you have to run 11 miles. What were you thinking? You can't do this. How do you expect to run a marathon. You can't even run 3 miles. It's not too late to quit. You Can't do this!" Meet my Giant; the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2014. For those who aren't familiar, that is 26.2 miles. I've ran a handful of half marathons (13.1 miles) and knew in my heart it was time to take on a new challenge. A big challenge.. a GIANT challenge. In those moments, as I was struggling to complete the 6 miles, I doubted everything, including my decision to run at all. My giant scares me to death. I have no idea how I will ever run 26.2 miles and I go back and forth between excitement and complete regret for committing to it. **No secrets here!** Something amazing happened to me on my run. In the middle of that run I heard God speaking to my heart. Do you know what he told me? He reminded me that MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN ANY GIANT! My God is bigger than that race, he's bigger than the obstacles that are inevitable during a season of training. Nothing is impossible with MY GOD! You know what, that was the most amazing reminder! Sometimes we need to be reminded that we aren't alone down here. We don't have to face things alone. Our God is bigger than anything we come up against.

What is your giant? What is the thing that scares you to death? Maybe it's a big goal you have for yourself and you have no idea how you will get there. Maybe your giant isn't fitness related at all. No matter what that giant is, I want to remind you that we don't have to face those giants alone. Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Read that verse again, it says ALL things. It doesn't say, just certain things.. it says ALL. For me, that "all" is my marathon in October. No matter what you are facing, no matter how BIG your giant is and how incompetent you feel, you have to stop focusing on how big that giant is and start focusing on how BIG your God is! He will give you the strength, but you have to believe. In Mark 9:23 we see, "Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.". There is that word ALL again. We can do anything my friends, we have the strength to conquer every single giant that is placed in front of us, we simply have to have faith in God and believe that he is there to help us along the way.

When we start trusting in God to guide our way, obstacles are inevitable. The most terrible thoughts of fear and defeat are going to pop into our head. You are going to question yourself and your ability. You are going to get sick, your kids are going to get sick, your car is going to break down.. OBSTACLES. Let me be bold and tell you this, Satan is alive and well in our world and he does NOT want you to be successful. He doesn't want you to conquer your giants. He wants to break you down and make you feel like you are worthless, incompetent and a failure. Just like on my run, he wanted to defeat me, even if it was just one run. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." I share this with you so you can be aware of your enemy. You don't have to entertain the negative thoughts that pass through your head or through the mouths of those around you. When you come up against resistance, you remind yourself of who your God is. God is stronger than all of that! You can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength. Go out there and live it like you believe it my friends! 

Oh and btw, on Saturday not only was I able to overcome those negative thoughts of defeat and fear, but also ran an extra mile.. finishing strong at 7 miles! If I can do it, so can you! <3