Why You Must Pray in Every Season You’re In

Track and field was one of my first loves as a child.

Besides soccer, it was the first sport I did consistently. Not as consistently as I liked, but enough to be very knowledgeable.

My life has always been about moving. Whether it was going to school, or going to a sports practice, or going to an event, I’ve always been on the go.

While this wasn’t always the healthiest routine, track helped me develop a healthier relationship with movement.

Running was great for many reasons.

I developed a love for athletics, exercise, and health. I formed lasting bonds with my teammates and other runners from track meets. And I had the world’s best calves.

I never saw the day when Id stop running

High school track was different though. Yes, people were faster, meets were on weekdays and weekends, and my workouts were more intense. However, the real difference was in the lack of community.

Most of my team didn’t look like me, I didn’t like the coach, and track meets were quieter and less eventful. My love for running persisted, but I had to make some major adjustments in order to still feel good from the sport.

After about a year, some new coaches came in and shook up the program. I was running hurdles, dominating relays, doing pre- and post- workout strength training, and working with Olympians. Although sometimes the harder workouts made me nervous, overall, it was a great time!

After Penn Relays though, I was content with ending my track career.

Although somewhat sad, I didn’t think I was fast enough for college track anyways. I looked at my white, purple, and silver track spikes that I had had since the 7th grade!! Each scuff mark and worn down spike represented the time and energy I had put into getting my times down.

I thought of all the track meets, the warm up drills, the friendships, the exhilarating close finishes. So much of my life was spent on the rubber turf. Some tears began to form, but I wiped my eyes quickly.

No way I was gonna cry about something so beautiful. Every second, every minute spent out there…it was totally worth it.

In college, I did everything but run. Id lift heavy weights in the gym, do a random ab workout, or do H. I. I. T. on the stair master. But very rarely did I run.

Partially because I went to school in a cold city. Partially because I didn’t want to run on concrete. But in reality, my heart had said goodbye to that form of movement and believed I could still be fit by doing other workouts.

I spent a lot of time in the gym, but little did I know that no amount of gym time could provide the same amount of soul regeneration that running could. Slowly but surely, despite doing other workouts, the lack of running was hurting my health.

When I visited my acupuncturist for the first time, she looked me in the eye and pointed right at me.

“You must run. Running will save your life. “

I’d run on and off, but this year I was determined to get myself going.

I had prayed that God would help me with my health and help me emerge from this challenging season stronger.

Surely enough, in true God fashion, I started getting signs that I needed to run.

First, I ran into my elementary school track coach. Next, I stumbled into an indoor track meet at the community center I exercised at. And thirdly, a video of a woman talking about the importance of sprint workouts appeared on my instagram feed.

So I hit the track. A few days a week. Slowly tracking my progress. Slowly improving my start. Slowly working on endurance.

It became mechanical for me. I prayed before and after each workout, thanking God for the ability to move my body. And thanking the Most High for guiding me safely to and from the track. I cast out all doubts and negativity regarding my current running state. I was only going to speak praise over myself and what I was accomplishing.

Hmm, I thought to myself one day, the more I run, I’ll need some new track spikes. The old white, purple, and silver ones definitely don’t fit anymore. I don’t have money for it now, but I’ll just work with the shoes I have.

I headed to the track as normal and began my sprint workout. As I ran, I noticed a woman staring at me. I was somewhat unsettled, but decided to keep running. After my second sprint, she walked over to me.

She introduced herself, telling me she was a former runner trying to get back into the sport. I initially thought she was gonna ask me for running tips or ask if I could train her. But she did something else.

“I bought these new track spikes, but they don’t fit me. I see you out here. You’ll need them. Take them. Never stop running.“

And just like that she handed me a beautiful brand new pair of pink and dark blue spikes.

She mentioned that I should try running in young adult track leagues before jogging to another part of the track to finish her workout.

Truly in awe of God, I stared at the shoes with my mouth open.

I laced up and ran my third and final 100m sprint of the day, with tears streaming down my face and the world’s biggest smile.

I don’t wish the pain I’m going through on anyone. Some mornings I can get up. Other days all I can do is get on my knees and cry as I wonder if God hears me.

Regardless of how I feel I pray.

Regardless of how tired I am I pray.

Regardless of how little I believe I pray.

Because one day, God will send you a message or a messenger telling you to keep going. For me, the woman and the shoes she gave me were just that.

Even in this bleak season, God is still blessing me. Every convo, every gift, every event can be a message. It is up to you to listen and respond accordingly when God talks back to you.

When I prayed to God for a sign to get going and something to motivate me, God gave me an opportunity to achieve those goals. I could’ve dismissed meeting my old track coach and the track meet as coincidences. But I knew that both acted as answered prayers. You want good health? Here is the answer.

I expressed gratitude and responded by showing up on the track each week. God replied again by giving me the shoes. I prayed and demonstrated that I could maintain what I asked for. Therefore, I was blessed and supported again.

Conversations with God aren’t always in plain English.  But you must have them in order to create the life of your dreams. Given the craziness of my life, I could’ve given up and done everything except get closer to God. Instead I was honest about my pain, clear about aligning myself with my true purpose, and open to whatever positive things were sent my way.

Never in a million years did I think someone would hand me brand new track spikes out of the blue. But it happened because I prayed and acted accordingly.

That small blessing made me just a tad more hopeful that I could get out of this situation alive.

The small signs and blessings may not fix the overall issue, but they are signs to keep going. Think of them as small puzzle pieces that you collect along the way. Then one day you’ll wake up and see that the puzzle is completed. It may take weeks, months, or even years. But every piece was needed and introduced for your betterment. To find the puzzle pieces, you must pray and you must go within.

As I hold my new track spikes in my hands, I smile once more. This time I dream of the day when I can run my first track meet as an adult. When I cross the finish line, the taste of victory still on my tongue, I’ll look up to the sky and say, “Thank you God. Thank you for telling me to run.”