“Sure, I’ll run with you,” I tell a new friend. Until now, I’ve hit the pavement alone. Headphones blasting Mandisa in my ears. Prayers in my heart. I don’t pay attention to how fast I go. I don’t have goals for how far I want to get. I just run with Jesus for the joy of it.
But as soon as I agree to run with someone else, everything changes. Suddenly I’m worried about my pace. I feel like I need to go farther and faster. I try to picture my stride and ensure I look good. Anxiety replaces anticipation when I think about my next time to hit the trail.
My routine hasn’t shifted but my focus has.
I was reminded of that one morning as I sat at my keyboard with tears in my eyes. “Jesus,” I whispered, “I’m so tired. There are too many people to please and too much work to do.”
Somehow I’d slipped back into my old patterns of striving. Of spending my days pursuing the approval of those around me. Did I keep up with what’s happening on social media? Did I make enough progress with my next project? How did I come across to those around me?
Continue reading with me today over at (in)courage…
