One of my favorite things of all time is running. There is something about the rhythmic pounding of feet on pavement that can always be counted on to wash away the cares of the day. The key, however, is to always keep your feet on the pavement.

It hasn’t happened in quite a while (someone knock on wood), but I remember vividly the first time I “ate some asphalt.” One minute I was running down the greenway, listening to praise music, and counting the number of miles I would have when I made it back to my car. The next minute, my water bottle was flying out of my hand, my sunglasses were flying off my face, and I was flying through the air, headed straight for the pavement.

Between the split second that my toe caught the rough spot in the road and my body hit the ground, there was that seeming eternity when I knew I had lost control and there was nothing that I was going to be able to do to regain it. And just like that day on the greenway, these recent months have felt a bit out of control.

This time of year, just seven short weeks before our annual Restoration Runway fundraiser, I find myself stretched far beyond the limits of my abilities. Things are good, but ultra-busy—my list includes items such as helping to create the runway lineup to selecting the menu to posting announcements on every online calendar known to man to making marketing decisions and contacting local media for publicity. All of this on top of my regular responsibilities—preparing an employee’s annual evaluation (which is already late!), planning board meetings, updating Facebook, staying in touch with donors, reviewing grants, returning calls, answering email, scheduling clients, and of course, dusting the office! And that’s just the first page of my list.

My friends, family, and staff would likely tell you that I’m the queen of organization and control, but what I know today is that there is no amount of organizing or controlling that I can do to accomplish the tasks at hand. Simply put, I’m out of control.

The truth is that what God calls me to is often way beyond the natural realm of my abilities. I tend to believe that if “it’s of God” then surely it will be an easy and smooth ride. But seriously. What is it that makes me think that what God has called me to will not cost me something? Like work? Or sweat? Or even tears! Yet, once all is said and done, I am able to say without a shadow of a doubt, “It was GOD! I could have never done this on my own.” And today I know–thankfully a little bit better than this time last year–that after March 29 has come and gone, these will be my words…again. It was God! I could have never done this on my own.

But until then, like the Apostle Paul, I will press on and strain toward what is ahead. And I will learn to struggle with His [Christ’s] energy, because it works so powerfully in me (Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:29). What freedom to be reminded that I do not have to struggle in my own energy to keep everything under control!

So, while being out of control during a run is a quite dangerous state, I know that to be out of control in life (i.e. surrendering my control to God) is the safest place I could ever find myself.