"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living."

We serve a good, good God. If you know Him intimately at all you know that. David expresses so well a great advantage we have when God is our Father. His children do not have to despair as others. When we cry out to Him we know He hears, and He is good. Then we wait and watch expectantly for the goodness of God as our hearts fill with courage to do the unthinkable.

I experienced this yesterday while running the ten mile trail run at Matthews State Forest. It is an extremely challenging, fun run! I broke a rib on Thursday morning in the gym. It was a lower rib on the left side of my back. I actually ran with a client afterwards an easy pace on the flat New River Trail. It hurt, but not that badly. On Friday I rested, and on Saturday morning I was praying for my clients and myself about the race we were about to do. This is the verse the Lord dropped in my spirit. I looked it up and read Psalm 27. My heart took courage.

The first part of the race was on the service road, so I was uncomfortable, but not a big deal. About four miles into the race I took a hard fall which isn’t unusual trail running, but it really intensified the pain in my rib. Then I came to "mortal coil" which is a roller coaster of up and down. After that I was really hurting on downhill; uphill became my friend. I just kept praying for God’s goodness and believed.

Not only did I complete the run, but ended up being the first female, beating my time from last year almost three minutes!
Without my Word from my Father I would never have attempted the run, but I know Him. He is good and faithful to all who call upon Him.
In His love.

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

276-237-6680

A painful, but glorious finish clinging to the love of my Father! I stand humbly in awe with my childlike faith that enables me to continue to do the unthinkable!