Nobody would give up the world for a dollar, but would you give up the world for the universe? Until we understand what Puritan Thomas Brooks called “the naked enjoyments of Christ” we will keep selling ourselves short. If you truly want to make a change in 2026, this is where you start, as it points you in the right direction and serves as a guardrail should you start to veer off course. If you haven’t read last week’s post (”Buy From Me”), I recommend you read that first HERE. This is the second part of that chapter in my work-in-progress on living with divine affirmation.
The first time I got Covid-19, the worst symptom for me was severe joint pain. Losing my sense of smell was bizarre more than uncomfortable. After Covid passed, the joint pain went with it and I was able to resume running. The second time I got Covid, the joint pain in my knees stayed even after the disease had left. After decades of distance running, it was difficult for me to go more than three miles without setting myself up for pain throughout the rest of the day.
For stress, weight management, mental refreshment, and often spiritual insight, running has been a mainstay in my life. I’ve completed fourteen marathons and treasured each one. I pushed through the pain until it felt like someone was jamming a knife underneath my kneecap, and was forced to undergo surgery. Following surgery, the doctor told me I should really accept that I’ve run my last marathon. They cut out a large part of my meniscus, and I would risk long-term damage by continuing to do marathons.
“Should” doesn’t mean “can’t,” but while the thought of losing the ability to run long distances is terrible to contemplate, I’ve learned that my need to maintain a sweet, surrendered spirit before God is more important than my need to run. It truly is. God is good enough for me! That is and must remain the defining statement of my life. If not being able to run makes me bitter at God or less than grateful for the spiritual riches I enjoy, the blessing of my past running will become a curse. I need the presence and favor of God more than I need to run.
God is good enough for me, period. Not God plus running. Just, God.
What is your God “plus” that might be keeping you from being satisfied and content? If you want to live a blessed life, it’s time to drop the plus.
Continue reading this blog on Substack HERE.