Every Good Gift Comes From Above
Have you ever wanted to get away from life? Just escape the difficulties and hardships even for a short time?
I did too… for years.
Specifically, more recently.
If you’ve followed me for any length of time you may have read about how difficult the last few years of my life was.
Challenging, to say the least.
It almost felt like God was allowing things into my life until it brought me to my lowest point.
And eventually it did.
To the point that all I could think about was escaping even if that meant ending my life. Sure thoughts of suicide came to mind as I grew up but never to the extent that I actually considered it.
However, God in His mercy, led me to talk with a few people and ask for prayer. I knew leaving this world was not an option. I had to stick it out. I began putting scripture truths on my bathroom mirror, on my phone, in my car and everywhere that I could think of. It was a daily spiritual battle, but eventually I broke free.
Yet after only a couple months, barely enough time to recover, I got really sick and this is where the story begins… A story that I pray never leaves my mind and God can continually bring it to my memory as a reminder of who He is and how much He loves me.
…
Last year, the Spring of 2025, I started a job working at a plant nursery. Because it is partially seasonal I knew I wanted to plan a trip to Florida during the slow season. I wasn’t sure if I would be kept as a worker over the winter, and when I would pray about it I felt like God was laying on my heart to save $1000. I was like, Yeah but am I working over winter?
He never answered.
I did end up being kept for the little winter work the company has and was wondering what the saved money was for.
Christmas Eve I got sick and by evening I was on the couch wiped out, coughing, and couldn’t eat. I was still struggling with symptoms the week after New Years. It was the worst sickness I’ve had, dealing with fevers, hallucinations, inflammation and anxiety. I could barely eat anything and most of the time I could only drink sips of one kind of tea. I was exhausted, had no energy and my body was weak. Then on top of that I got a sinus infection that created horrible pain around my teeth from the pressure in my sinus cavities so that the only way I could eat or drink anything was if I had ibuprofen in my system. Not fun!
While working my first real day back to work since the holidays – Monday January 12th – I texted my mom during break saying, “I think we need to go to Florida.”
She thought I was joking and responded, “Ok let’s go.”
It took a couple texts throughout the day for her to realize I was being serious. I told her I was going whether she did or not.
Because the last three years were exhausting mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, I needed time away. The holiday sickness had pushed me over the edge.
I asked work if I could have that following week off and they gave me the Friday before as well. I couldn’t sleep I was so excited so I got up and made piles of things that I wanted to take. Thursday evening, January 15th, three days later, I threw everything into a suitcase, grabbed my computer bag and some groceries and my mom picked me up. The next day we were off… and that’s when the fun started!
…
Throughout my life God has answered prayers that I’ve always wondered why. Why would He give me things I wanted, but didn’t need. Psalm 37:4 has been a verse on my heart for years.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. – Ps. 37:4
After this vacation I realized the answer… He loves us so much more than we could ever imagine!!
Stick around for following posts to read of all the awesome things God taught me on my trip!
Until next time,
Happy Running!
Be Still and Run 