Stronger

I almost always have a song running through my head. Anyone who has spent much time with me could tell you that the song in my head often comes out as humming or singing, and often I don't know i'm doing it until someone asks what i'm singing. I have sometimes wondered if when I get to heaven I can listen to the soundtrack of my life as heard through songs stuck in my head, it would be an amazing testimony to who God is and what he has done in and through me, but that's a pondering for another time.

Triathlon training has provided a new platform for songs to run through my head because at any sanctioned USATriathlon event (which i'm training for) it is against the rules to use any ipod/mp3 player during the race. So I've cut myself from listening to recorded music during my training but continue to still hear songs in my head as I swim, bike and run.

The interesting thing is that I have better training rides and runs when I am hearing one song for the whole time (sometimes several hours at a time). My previous blog post shared the song that has become my biking song, and now I have discovered a running song...

I was listening to the radio while driving to the park to run and the song that was one upon my arrival stayed in my head. I didn't really know many of the words, but something about the beat and tempo was perfect for running to. So the tune ran through my head and the two lines of text I could remember:

"Hold on just a little bit longer. He knows that this is going to make you stronger, stronger"

very encouraging words while running (or jogging or walking). The next time I was going running I wanted to think that song again, but I couldn't remember it and I didn't know what song it was. I turned on my radio (which for some reason i had turned off) hoping that in the 2 minutes I had left in my car maybe i would hear that song again. and sure enough, it was in the middle of the song! After smiling and thanking God for arranging even that small thing in my day, I headed out for my run again with the perfect rhythm and great encouraging lyrics.

So now I have figured out actually what the song is and I continue to use it to stay focused during my runs. These are the rest of the lyrics to the song "Stronger" by Mandisa:

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you ...

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger