3 P's with Purpose

 

This past Sunday, I was home alone all afternoon. Andy had gone to the Auto Show, leaving me with plenty of time to lollygag. It was too cold to run errands-or maybe I was just too lazy. 

Too unmotivated. Too gray. Too this, too that!

So, I stayed in my favorite sweatpants, dilly-dallied around the house, and watched 2 episodes of Matlock with Kathy Bates while doing laundry. But soon enough, I felt like I was about to come out of my skin. The day just creaked by each hour slower than the last. 

Days like this can lead me into a slump. If I'm not careful, too many "too gray" days pile up, and I find myself slipping into a place that's hard to climb out of. Stinking thinking starts to settle in, and those old voices go on replay. 

Running, writing and staying close to the Lord helps me process those thoughts and walk them out. I can take my struggles to the Lord, who counsels and encourages me. 

Recently. I stumbled across some notes I'd written back in 2013 and found 3 SIMPLE REMINDERS for days when I'm feeling low:

THE THREE P'S: Possibilities, Potential, and Perspective. 

1. POSSIBILITIES

"With God, all things are possible." -Matthew 19:26

Even in a slumber, we can be reminded that God has endless POSSIBILITIES for our life. What feels small, insignificant, or mundane to me is never too small in His eyes. It is amazing to think what we consider ordinary; The Lord considers an opportunity for something extraordinary. When we shift our focus on His POSSIBILITIES, the gray begins to lift. 

2. POTENTIAL

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11

God doesn't just see what is-He sees what CAN be. He sees our POTENTIAL even when we feel stuck in sweatpants and slumping around the house! Every day is another chance to grow, to learn, and to be transformed. 

Even in winter, there's potential for new life. I have to remember that growth often happens in the unseen, much like seeds under the frozen Michigan ground. 

3. PERSPECTIVE

  "Set your minds on the things above, not on earthly things." Col. 3:2

Winter, dreary skies, and lazy days are unavoidable. Life isn't about escaping the mess or the dreariness; it's about how we choose to RESPOND to it. When I take my eyes off myself and try to look through the lens of the Lords PERSPECTIVE, everything changes. 

PERSPECTIVE helps us see that even the slow, creaky days have value. God can use them to teach me patience, to help me rest, or to deepen my reliance on Him. 

The RUNDOWN:

Earlier that Sunday, I joined friends for a 10-mile run at Kensington Metropark. 

WEEKLY STATS:

*Total Miles: 61 miles

*Run Streak: Maintained

*Elevation Gain: 2,838 feet

*Terrain Covered: Trails, backroads, indoor track, metro parks

Running helps my mental health. It releases endorphins which act as a natural antidepressant. Reflecting on my days earlier run I realize how it positively impacted my mood. The camaraderie with friends and the park elements always lifts my spirits. 

This season of gray and cold reminds me that I can't control the weather- or the circumstances of life. But I can choose how I respond. On days when I'm feeling low, I have to remember that God's POSSIBILIES, my POTENTIAL, and His PERSPECTIVE can pull me out of the slump. 

I was feeling a bit low when I realized my wounds were self-inflicted, Glory to God. 

J A D A 

Saturdays run club

In PEACE, not PIECES, 

Anita