Created to Run: A Divine Design in Motion

God had a purpose in mind when He formed humanity on the sixth day. Crowned with His image, we were made to walk with Him, to steward creation, and to reflect His glory in all we do. But oh, what wonder when He sculpted the horse!

Majestic. Powerful. Graceful. There’s something in the thunder of hooves and the sweep of a mane that echoes divine artistry. As Psalm 147:10 says, *“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him.”* Still, you can’t help but marvel when the two—the horse and the man—run in harmony toward their calling.

I’m not a gambler, but I really love horses. There’s something about watching them run that moves me—deeply. They remind me that we, too, were created to run—not aimlessly, but with purpose, with design, and with fire in our souls.

The 151st Kentucky Derby was no ordinary race. It wasn't just a display of speed; it was a testament to spirit, breeding, and legacy. Sovereignty, against all odds, surged down that final stretch in a heart-pounding finish, nose-to-nose, grit meeting grace in a photo finish that stunned the world. In that moment, it wasn’t just about victory—it was about design. The kind of design that only a Creator could imagine. You see every horse in this race was a descendant of Secretariat.

**Secretariat**

 the legend of legends, needs no introduction:

Born with the fire of thunder in his veins,

He didn’t just run—he flew.

A heart twice the size,

Beating with heaven’s rhythm,

He shattered time at Belmont,

As if earth itself couldn’t hold him.

Secretariat was more than a horse; he was a whisper of God’s sovereignty. A reminder that some things are birthed for greatness—not by chance, but by divine decree. Just as God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5), so too He ordains the path of every living thing, just in the life of Secretariat.

**Sovereignty**

Sovereignty—the quiet hum beneath every gallop and heartbeat. The invisible hand guiding wind and will. The same God who crafted the equine frame, so perfect for motion, also knits together our souls with a purpose no less intentional. We are not accidents. We are assignments.

But my heart finds its greatest poetry not in the champions, but in the mothers.

**Zenyatta.**

She danced before the gate,

Like royalty wrapped in velvet thunder.

Her stride—liquid strength.

Her gaze—quiet fire.

But it was in motherhood

That her crown gleamed anew.

Zenyatta, the queen of hearts, undefeated for so long, carried her power with elegance. But it’s in her role as a broodmare, passing on strength and spirit to the next generation, that we glimpse the sacred rhythm of nurture and legacy. Her quiet, enduring work mirrors the love of God—a strength clothed in gentleness, a calling rooted in giving.

So it is with us.

We were made to run, yes—but also to carry forward purpose, to shape legacy, to reflect the Creator who designed both stallion and soul.

God, in His breathtaking creativity, has made each of us with spectacular gifts. We’re not here by chance. We’re handcrafted by the Creator of the universe—“fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14, ESV). Within each of us are talents, passions, and abilities designed with divine precision. You carry a unique imprint of God’s glory, and He has prepared a race just for you.

But gifts are not meant to sit idle. Just as a racehorse isn't bred to remain in the stable, your gifts weren’t meant to lie dormant. They’re meant to be identified, trained, and released—used boldly and faithfully for God’s purposes.

We must:

* Identify our gifts through prayer, self-reflection, and wise counsel.

* Train them through discipline, effort, and humility.

* Use them in service to others and obedience to God.

* Shine them as a reflection of His glory—not for personal fame, but for divine honor.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV).

Just like derby horses have their own tracks, we each have our own calling. Don’t waste your energy comparing lanes. Don’t shrink back because someone else’s stride looks longer or louder. The race God designed for you is perfectly matched to your gifts. The worst thing we can do is watch from the sidelines, holding back what God intended to release.

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus...” (Hebrews 12:1–2, ESV).

This isn’t a sprint. It’s a faith-filled, purpose-driven journey. You weren’t made to blend in or bury your talents. You were created to run—a divine design in motion.

So saddle up your courage. Trust the One who designed you. Whether your calling feels like a championship race or a quiet pasture of faithfulness, run your race! And let the world see what happens when someone fully alive in Christ dares to run free.

God doesn’t just make fast horses. He makes people with eternal callings.

Happy Mother's Day all you Mother's out there!