Follow Hard

Yesterday I had a routine heart appointment at the U of M. It wasn’t one of those abrupt back-to-Michigan runs that we have become accustomed to, but one that was in the books two months ago. I say all that because this past year has been filled with abrupt happenings so I wanted to be clear!

I made the trek on my own today, by choice, and one of the things I pondered was the fact that we all have a choice to make. To follow God here and there or choose to follow God in the thick and thin of life? What it comes down to is this: am I going to choose daily to follow HARD after God or allow my faith to get tossed about by the wind?

I have no clue what my tests will show. I also was hooked up to a 12-lead heart monitor that I will wear for the next 48 hours. My last one in September was not good, so they want to see if there has been any improvement since being put on a new medication.

I would be completely surprised if they said there was no improvement because God has given me an incredible break from feeling the symptoms of severe heart failure. I have felt so great in comparison to September! Of course things aren’t perfect, but I truly feel my heart has improved. BUT…I’ve been fooled in the past and have told myself things are better when they aren’t, so I’m not trying to get too caught up in those thoughts. 

But on the way home, I kept thinking, you know? It’s all good! Whatever happens, is supposed to happen. Not that I don’t care, but the results will show what God wants them to show. And no matter what the results are, I’m going to strive to FOLLOW HARD. Not just when life is easy, but when there is uncertainty, pain, worry, struggles, you name it. Realizing that as it stands, I am on the cusp of a transplant. Of course we are hoping that fine line gets further and further away, but it’s not for us to decide. It truly is in God’s hands.

And where do you stand? Do you challenge yourself to FOLLOW HARD each and every day after God? To do all you can to love and serve Him? I’ll be the first one to stand up and say that it’s not easy and I fail multiple times a DAY at this. But God gives us the grace to keep going and that is why He gives us that grace – because He WANTS us to keep going. Keep thriving. Keep striving. Follow hard.