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Julie Sanders

Julie Sanders

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  • EXPECTANT – a New Mom’s Devotional

October 6, 2010 ·

Up From the Dumps

Christian lifestyle· Stress

A few weeks ago, Jeff ran a 17.5 mile race. He’s my hero. 🙂 On the other hand, I was eating an apple hand pie and drinking a coffee, seated in a chair on the side of a soccer field. When we met up back at home, he gave me the “rundown” of his race. 😉

In the last leg of the race, the trail takes you to a steep ascent with a series of ladders. At this point, you have pasta legs, and it’s a battle of your will vs. your weakness. As he stood there catching his breath, a woman ran up alongside of him and stopped, looking up at the imposing ladders. “I don’t think there’s any way I can lift my legs to climb that,” she confessed.

“What did you tell her?!?!?” I wanted to know. I LOVE a good story!  🙂


“We’re at the end. You HAVE to keep going!” And they did. He has a corny sweatshirt to show for it. 🙂

Not too long ago, I said something similar to my runner hubby. “I’m feeling like I’m sliding into a funk.” And I began noticing that a lot of the women around me were also dealing with a sense of discouragement. I heard it in their conversations and in their status updates and prayer requests.  I saw it in their eyes and in their “pasta legs.”  I recognized it, because I know how it feels, too.  It may last a short while, or it may last long, but it’s that overwhelming feeling that you can NOT lift your legs to get up the ladder. Truth is, a corny sweatshirt is NOT enough motivation to get out of the dumps.  Everyone “goes there” sometimes, but we don’t want to stay there.

It’s true: we have to keep going; there is a “finish line” awaiting us. So that’s what I want to spend the rest of October on. Getting “Up From the Dumps,” battling discouragement. Think about what weighs heavily on you:  extended family, health issues, trouble with children, pain in the church, finances, stuff to maintain, expectations in relationships, unrealized dreams, unemployment, world news … There is hope and help to get up the ladder. This October, let’s get “Up From the Dumps” together!

What’s weighing on you?

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Previous Post: « Marriage Mondays ~ You Can Survive Football
Next Post: UFD ~ Do You Know Your Goal? »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julia says

    October 7, 2010 at 2:01 am

    Love this! I don't like to dwell on the negatives but sometimes you just have to air them out to move on!

  2. Susan says

    October 19, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    Great post Julie! You are very real and speak truth that we all need to hear. Thanks.

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Thanks so much for stopping in. I'm glad you're here. I believe we're meant to know peace in our lives, so I write about how to find it in our relationships and how to share it with others. I like to keep things sourced in God's truth and useful for life. May your moments here leave you with a little more peace for your days.

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"Julie Sanders is uniquely gifted to speak the never-changing truth of God into the ever-changing lives of women. With authenticity and the confidence that grows from a journey of finding God faithful in every season, Julie calls women to find peace and comfort in Him alone."

Kristi - Women's Ministry Director, The Chapel in North Canton, Canton, OH

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Kristi - Women's Ministry Director, The Chapel in North Canton, Canton, OH

"Julie Sanders is uniquely gifted to speak the never-changing truth of God into the ever-changing lives of women. With authenticity and the confidence that grows from a journey of finding God faithful in every season, Julie calls women to find peace and comfort in Him alone."
https://juliesanders.org/testimonials/9175/
"Julie’s writings and teachings have been spiritual markers in my life. The deep knowledge of the Word she possesses, and they way in which she delivers it through her writing are deeply impactful. I would say that my favorite piece about Julie’s work is the way she speaks truth in love. She never waters down scripture to fit someone’s desires. And she does this with so much grace and compassion."

Susan - Homeschool Mom, Foster Mom & Business Consultant, Mt. Juliet, TN

Julie Sanders, Author and Speaker
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Susan - Homeschool Mom, Foster Mom & Business Consultant, Mt. Juliet, TN

"Julie’s writings and teachings have been spiritual markers in my life. The deep knowledge of the Word she possesses, and they way in which she delivers it through her writing are deeply impactful. I would say that my favorite piece about Julie’s work is the way she speaks truth in love. She never waters down scripture to fit someone’s desires. And she does this with so much grace and compassion."
https://juliesanders.org/testimonials/susan/
"Through the years and seasons of life, Julie willingly follows God's open doors and trusts Him at times when some windows have closed. I have gratefully watched, learned and gathered courage for my own following. Whether speaking, writing, or just being present, Julie's grace, wit, interests and love draw others closer in to listen and follow her in step with His grace and mercy."

Carla - Volunteer Coordinator, Harvest Church, Oswego, Illinois

Julie Sanders, Author and Speaker
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2019-09-08T18:04:20-04:00

Carla - Volunteer Coordinator, Harvest Church, Oswego, Illinois

"Through the years and seasons of life, Julie willingly follows God's open doors and trusts Him at times when some windows have closed. I have gratefully watched, learned and gathered courage for my own following. Whether speaking, writing, or just being present, Julie's grace, wit, interests and love draw others closer in to listen and follow her in step with His grace and mercy."
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