Day 85...

What an incredible morning! :) This run ranks right up there with any of the most enjoyable that I've had in a long time. The sun was rising, the birds were singing, the winds were calm, it was cold but not frigid. AND, my pain was almost non-existent! Hallelujah! Praise God! :) Let's define grace and mercy: After a full week of hard running and long miles, I feel better today than I did on Monday. :) Lord, You amaze me with Your goodness.

I know that I kept blogging this week with small updates, but there is just so much to say about what REALLY went on this week, especially below the surface. I just couldn't say it all when I was typing on my phone. haha! :) (Thanks again to Mom for posting the updates for me!)

Monday was probably the hardest day I've had mentally. It was the blog day that I was questioning everything. Such frustration with the pain in my foot. And I'd resigned myself to the idea that I had a stress fracture and was going to have to give up this whole thing.

I tell you what. God's timing is amazing. His love is beyond my imagination. He used that situation to teach me such a valuable lesson this week.

I've known for a long time that He wanted to address my thought life, specifically when it comes to fear. I really struggle with allowing my thoughts fixate on fears, and that tends to criple my ability to function at a high capacity. I find the worst possible scenario and start stewing over it. You saw it this past week when I was convinced that I had a stress fracture in my foot. I stewed over that constantly for about four days. I mean, literally, it was almost ALL I could think about.

By the time Monday rolled around, I truly believed that's what it was, and I couldn't think about anything else. I moped around. I stressed. I cried. All without any legitimate reason other than my own rampant and negative thoughts.

God is so good, and here's where it's so important to have Christian brothers and sisters in your corner. By the time I got to the airport on Monday to meet up with my group and travel to our retreat, I was in such a state that a group of my girls circled up and prayed over me. Shortly after that was when I got the great wisdom from my trainer buddy who pretty much dismissed the notion of a stress fracture and suggested the heat therapy.

Gosh, it's hard to communicate today. I just feel like so much happened that relates to this mission that I can't share it all!

Anyway, regarding the thoughts. I had prayed specifically that God would address my thought life at this retreat. I'd not seen any schedule, and I knew that the program would center on leadership. But...Wanna know what we had a session over on Tuesday? "Thinking Strategically." hahaha! God, You are so good!

I will have to let you know more about all that I learned later on when I've processed it more, but I wanted to share that with you to let you know two things:

1. God is strategic in all of our life events. When we are going through something, we can be assured that He is planning to use it to make us more like Christ. He used my thought collapse to prepare me to learn on Tuesday and begin to transform my mind.

2. If you've been following this blog and have been praying for me regarding my tendency to fear, know that your prayers are being answered. And if you would be willing to keep praying that prayer, I would love it!

Well, friends, I have to get going. Time to go conquer the world of magazine for Christ! :)

Prayer requests:

1. For the 22-miler tomorrow. LAST ONE!!! :)

2. For healing on my feet and cranky left knee.

3. For the Lord's truth to continue to be delivered to our troops.

4. For Military Ministry and their staff and volunteers.

5. For rest and recovery for me and my body.

6. For all of us not to fear and to learn to think strategically and use a filter of Truth!

Love y'all!

-Jill

P.S. Wanna see a pic that I took on Tuesday of that killer blister after it popped?? Check it out! Big battle scar there. :) Haha!