Making Room for More
It's been eight months since my last blog post, and if I'm honest, life has been full of both challenges and milestones.
Earlier this year, I accomplished something I never thought I would do: I ran my first half marathon. What makes that accomplishment even more meaningful is that I went from couch to runner in just twelve weeks before race day, trust me, I wasn't a runner. In fact, I hated running. Every training session required discipline. There were mornings I wanted to quit, days I questioned whether I could do it, and moments I wondered why I signed up in the first place. But I kept showing up. One step at a time. One run at a time. And crossing that finish line reminded me that many of the things God calls us to do are accomplished not through talent, but through consistency and perseverance.
Then, just a few weeks ago, I experienced another milestone that felt just as significant. I graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Ministry and Leadership and finished with a 4.0 GPA. To many people, that may not seem unusual. But for me, it was deeply personal. You see, in high school and college, I was never the student earning straight A's. I was the girl who often struggled academically, especially math. A's were rare. B's were good. C's were common.
Yet this season was different, not because I suddenly became the smartest person in the room. Certainly, not because the work was easy. And definitely not because I did it in my own strength. This season taught me what can happen when discipline, surrender, consistency, and God's grace work together. Every paper written, every project completed, every assignment submitted became another reminder that God can do more through our obedience than we could ever accomplish through our own ability. All glory belongs to Him. And while these milestones are worth celebrating, there are still goals I'm pursuing before the end of this year. There are still dreams, assignments, and prayers I am believing God for.
As I've reflected on the past few months, one thing has become increasingly clear: The greatest growth God has done in me wasn't academic. It wasn't athletic. It was internal, which is exactly why I've spent this month talking so much about emotional maturity, healing, wisdom, discernment, accountability, and peace. I've watched so many people; including myself at times, become distracted by things that were never meant to carry so much of our attention.
Offenses.
Comparison.
Unforgiveness.
Past disappointments.
The need to prove ourselves.
The opinions of others.
The weight of old wounds.
Many of these things don't stop us because they are powerful, they stop us because we carry them longer than we should.
Scripture reminds us:
"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”— Hebrews 12:1
Notice that Scripture doesn't only tell us to lay aside sin, it says to lay aside everything that hinders. Sometimes the things slowing us down aren't sinful, they’re just heavy. And if we're going to step into what God has for us next, we must be willing to release what is weighing us down now.
Emotional maturity
matters because God often entrusts greater responsibility to people who have learned how to steward their hearts.
Emotional maturity matters because God often entrusts greater responsibility to people who have learned how to steward their hearts. Healing matters because unhealed wounds can distort how we see God, ourselves, and others. Forgiveness matters because bitterness consumes space that God intended for peace. Freedom matters because God never called us to carry chains into our next season. I truly believe God has more for many of us than we have yet experienced.
More growth.
More impact.
More influence.
More healing.
More purpose.
More opportunities to glorify Him.
But we cannot fully receive what God wants to place in our hands if we refuse to release what He has been asking us to surrender.
As we begin a new month, I want to encourage you not to focus on what hasn't happened yet this year. Maybe you've fallen behind on your goals. Perhaps you've experienced disappointment. Possibly you've struggled with consistency or even feel like you've wasted time. But hear me clearly: You are not out of time, we are only halfway through the year. God is not limited by your timeline, He is not intimidated by your setbacks and read this carefully…He is not finished writing your story.
What if this next season becomes the season where you finally surrender your plans, your expectations, your disappointments, your dreams, your vision, and your timeline to the Lord? What if instead of striving harder, you trusted deeper? What if instead of carrying everything yourself, you allowed God to lead?
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
As we close out the month of May and step into June, let's remain focused on the assignment God has placed before us.
Let's release distractions.
Let's choose forgiveness.
Let's pursue healing.
Let's walk in freedom.
Let's trust God's timing.
And let's make room for more of what He wants to do in and through us.
I'd love to hear from you.
What is one thing God is asking you to surrender before stepping into this next season?
Leave a comment below and let's encourage one another.
And if this devotional encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who may need the reminder that it is never too late for God to do something beautiful with the rest of this year.
P.S. If this message about healing, freedom, and moving forward resonated with you, I invite you to explore my books Silent Cries and A Moment of Silence. Both were written from places of personal reflection, faith, and healing, and my prayer is that they encourage you wherever you are in your journey. You can find them in the Store section of this website.
Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!
~landypf
I created a worship playlist while training for my race, and this song carried me through countless weekly long runs. But it didn't stop there.
Mighty Name of Jesus also became the soundtrack to many long hours of studying. Through the miles, the deadlines, the exhaustion, and the perseverance, this song reminded me of God's strength, faithfulness, and presence every step of the way.
Some songs become part of a season, and this was definitely one of them.