I had a busy summer of running in 2010. I was able to run my first full marathon. And I participated in the Northwest Passage Ragnar Relay. Along with a few other shorter 5k races.
Needless to say that by the end of my running summer I was tired.
Not only was I tired, but my legs were tired.
In fact, my left hamstring had been bothering me for almost three months. The general rule of running is that if you can run without it changing your running stride then you can probably run through the injury. And it never hurt when I was running.
After my races were over (sense the stubbornness) I decided it was time to take care of my hamstring.
I decided to test out something I've heard since I was a kid. That the answer to life's problems can be found in the scriptures.
I got down on my knees and prayed about my hamstring. I asked whether I could still run on it, or if I needed to take a break.
I know all you non runners are thinking, are you crazy? Don't run on it! Running is my sanity. Running is my drug. I go crazy when I don't run.
After my prayer I opened up my scriptures and started reading. The answer didn't come immediately, I had to read a few sections of the Doctrine and Covenants before I found an answer. And no, it wasn't "Run and not be weary, walk and not faint."
My answer was found in Doctrine and Covenants 5:34:
"...Stop and stand still until I command thee"
With it came a strong spiritual confirmation. I knew I had my answer. I stopped running.
The last part mentioned that not only did I have to stop running, but I had to be patient and wait until He said I could run again. That was almost harder than the not running. I wanted to know when I could run again. I wanted to start planning my training.
I prayed multiple times over the next month for an OK to get moving again. I scoured the scriptures, but the answer didn't come. I got my answer to stop running on July 27th, but it wasn't until September 3rd that I felt I got the okay while reading Doctrine and Covenants 75:3:
"Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle, but labor with your might"
I was so excited! So the next Monday I laced up my sneakers and went for a run. Unfortunately, it was terrible. Absolutely horrible.
I came home so discouraged and yet again opened my scriptures. And in my scripture reading I was chastised. It was so as He told me in Doctrine and Covenants 82:8-10:
"That you may understand my will concerning you
"Or, in other words, I give unto you directions how you may act before me, that it may turn to you for your salvation.
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise"
Well guess what folks, I hadn't done what he said. I had a prompting the day before that we needed to be better at family scripture study. I was sitting with my family at the time. We weren't doing anything important. It would have been so easy for me to grab my scriptures, which were within arms reach, and start reading. But I didn't. I ignored it!
"Your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treaded lightly the things which you have received."
Doctrine and Covenants 84:54
I was treating it lightly. I didn't do what he said. I had no promise that my hamstring would be healed.
"And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written."
Doctrine and Covenants 84:57
Now how is that for chastisement! I didn't read the Book of Mormon to my kids. I didn't follow his commandment to do that. And my hamstring hurt.
Well, let me tell you that after reading that I corrected the problem immediately. And the next day I went out for another run.
And a miracle occurred in my life.
I ran completely pain free.
Not just pain free, but it was one of the best runs of my life!! To this day I have not had a single problem with that hamstring. And we also haven't missed family scriptures more than a handful of times since then.
I may be daft sometimes, but even I can see the correlation between the two events.
This experience has given me such a great testimony that the scriptures can in fact give you the answers to everything. In fact go look at the references to all the scriptures. They aren't even out of order. The Lord was able to use the scriptures I was already reading to answer my questions. I know that my hamstring was healed because I heeded council to read scriptures to my family. I know that the Lord guided me.
I will never again doubt the power of the scriptures. Even when it comes to running.
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Amy N. loves to run, play the piano and talk, a lot. With a cycling husband and two active boys she is always on the go. You can read about their adventures here.
Photo from my personal files.
