Chosen Grace

Hey readers! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve written anything, but I’m back. I hope you guys enjoy this post!!

I have fallen in love with running. It’s something that genuinely enjoy. I find it to be a great stress reliever, way to loose weight (if that’s your goal), and way to keep busy.

Because I’ve taken up running as another hobby in my life, I decided to take up the challenge of running an 8k with my godmother. And man, was it definitely a challenge.

You see, I was super excited about it. My brother and I got up early on a Saturday to travel into the mountains (yes, the mountains) to run this race. We had our gear on, which consisted of layers upon layers due to the cold weather and we prepared ourselves to run. I had my earbuds in and I allowed myself to get into the zone as I prepared to take this on task. But nothing could have prepared me for what was ahead.

As soon as we started, I immediately began to ask myself “Malaysia- what were you thinking?” I had to ask myself that because the road up the mountain was steep. The hills were high. The wind was cold and blowing hard. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I could keep going. But, with encouragement from my Godmother, I kept pushing and we eventually made it to the top of Sassafras Mountain.

As soon as I saw the top, all of the struggles and pain that I had faced running up the mountain disappeared. I only felt joy and peace that I had made it to the point. I had persevered and kept going.

Now, I told you guys this story for good reason. Before making it to the top, the last mile was the hardest. It was so steep and my legs were hurting. But, as I kept running the Holy Spirit reminded me of the time when Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac. Let’s look at this incident found in Genesis 22 below:

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” –Genesis 22:1-2 ESV

Pause. Now read that again. Yes, our patriarch Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham had been praying for an heir and God kept his promise, giving him and Sarah a son. And now the tide has turned- and He was commanding Abraham to sacrifice the thing that he loved most.

Whew, that must hurt. And yet it is true for us as well. Sometimes God will call us to give up some things that we cherish most. Sometimes sometimes He’ll call us to travel up a steep mountain. And sometimes, we’re not sure if we can handle the steepness. But when those times come, we must follow Abraham’s example below:

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.  -Genesis 22:3 ESV

Abraham didn’t hesitate to follow God’s plan for him and his son. He willingly obeyed God, no matter how he felt about it. This honestly blows my mind each time I read about it because Abraham’s obedience was on another level. Personally, I would have hesitated and maybe even fled the scene. But Abraham let’s us know that obedience is truly better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).

We too must be obedient as Abraham was. Whatever God may be calling us to do in this season may seem crazy, unordinary, and it may perplex you. But I encourage you all to journey up the mountain that God has called you to. He will equip you for the road ahead.

And because of your obedience to His call, He’ll provide. Let’s check out evidence of God’s provision in the final verses of the chapter:

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. –Genesis 22: 9-13, ESV

Yes, God spared Abraham from having to kill his son. He provided for him. All because Abraham was obedient to what God called him to do. I’m pretty sure Abraham was beyond relieved. But more than anything, it proved to him that God can and will do anything.

Abraham was challenged when God called him to sacrifice his son, and yet he ended up still keeping the promise God had given him. I told you guys that I was challenged when I ran the 8k, but when I made it to the top of the mountain all of my worries went away. And you all will be challenged too. Our journey as children of God don’t make us immune to life’s steep hills, but we’re more equip to handle them because of our righteous standing with God through Jesus.

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice up Golgotha’s Hill, we are equipped with more than we know. We are more than conquers, in fact (Romans 8:37). God is ordering our steps daily. However, we must do our part- and take up our cross to follow Him (Matt 16: 24-26).

As this post comes to a close, I just want to encourage you all to keep climbing. Keep being steadfast. Keep running the race. I promise you that the top of the mountain will be gorgeous. Trust me, I know.

To conclude, I just want you all to know that life’s mountains will come up- unexpectedly at times. But you must be diligent in the climb.

Your faith will produce more fruit that you could ever imagine.

With love and a new appreciation for the climb,

Malaysia =)