“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.”
Romans 15:13 (NIV)

What are you allowing to fill you?
Is it the to-do list, the things you have accomplished, or the people you surround yourself with?

Without being intentional, it is easy for our cups—our lives—to run dry and empty. This can lead to feelings of burnout. In life, we will experience things we did not plan for. We will go through hard times. We may be unsure of what the next step looks like. During those moments, we must make it a priority not to “run free,” but instead to stay connected—to run to God and run with God.

Recently, I was asked, “How do you always make it through life with a smile on your face and joy in your heart?” My answer was simple: I am learning whose shoulders to place my worries, fears, and anxieties on.

For too long, I allowed those things to weigh down my soul instead of letting them go. I have learned that it is important to acknowledge them, ask others for prayer, and then place them in God’s hands—allowing God to carry them.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
— Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

Our strength does not come from running free, but from staying connected to God.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
— Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
— Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV)

When we RUN with God:

• We learn to trust His lead, even when the path curves.
• We discover endurance, not because life is easy, but because He is faithful.

As we run the race God has marked out for us, let us REMEMBER:

• Remember the good things God has done.
• Think back on the ways God has taken care of you.
• God has been faithful before—and He still is.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
— Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV)

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.”
— Psalm 77:11 (NIV)

As we go forth this year, let us RUN, REMEMBER, and REFOCUS our eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV)
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Whether you’re leading kids, families, or simply trying to be faithful in today’s moment—keep running, keep remembering, and keep refocusing your eyes on Jesus.

Let us not be ahead of God.
Let us not be behind Him.

But running with God, remembering all that He has done, and refocusing forward in faith on all that He is going to do.

Melia Warren has dedicated 20 years to full-time children’s ministry and resides in McMinnville, TN. Her passion lies in working with children and families, sharing Christ's love, and fostering spiritual growth through discipleship. She delights in celebrating God’s work, experiencing profound joy by saying yes to Jesus, and spreading His love. Melia treasures connecting with others and welcomes the opportunity to pray with or for you—reach out to her at melia@fbcmcminnville.com.