Hit and Run
Life… Happens
This blog is deeply personal to me (Lisa). My prayer is that it brings encouragement and insight for wherever you are in your walk with God.
The new year had arrived. Yay, 2026! Leave behind what needs to stay in 2025 — let’s go. Momentum is everything, right?!
New goals. New mindset. New milestones. I had plans. I was ready. Then… BAM.
On January 23rd, I walked out of an appointment into a dark, rainy parking lot — and there it was. My 2015 Land Rover was completely crushed from the hood down. No note. No witnesses. No cameras. Just damage.
I had only owned it for a year. I had gotten such a good deal on it. A brand-new engine with only 11,000 miles. And now this.
As I stood there stunned, I remembered something the Lord had been whispering to me for weeks: “Trust Me.”
Honestly? That made me nervous at the time. Was something going to happen?
Yes. Something happened.
And, I was not in a financial position to take on debt or shop for another vehicle.
My hope was that insurance would cover it — maybe just the deductible, and we’d move on. But when my mechanic looked at it, he said it would likely be totaled.
$14,000 in damage. My heart sank.
Okay, God. You said to trust You.
So for the next two weeks, I waited for the insurance investigation.
When Life Knocks You Down
When something hard happens, what is your response — both to the situation and to the Lord?
For me, I felt hit and knocked down.
Part of me wanted to run.
Run in panic.
Run in worry.
Run in anger.
Run in disappointment.
Run in feeling let down by God.
I know — it’s just a car. Things could be worse, but minimizing pain doesn’t fix it. It doesn’t calm the nervous system. It doesn’t restore peace.
Hard, unexpected circumstances can tempt us to run from God instead of toward Him.
A few days after the accident, I was at church. A song was playing with the lyrics, “You’re never gonna let me down.”
And I said — out loud — “That’s not true. I feel so let down.”
I left church that day feeling conflicted. Let down… and guilty for admitting it.
In my 33 years as a Christian, I’ve felt let down before. But I’ve also learned the life-changing power of perspective.
Perspective Changes Everything
Can God prevent bad things from happening? I believe He can.
Are we protected in ways we’ll never fully understand this side of eternity? Absolutely.
But here is what I also know: human beings have been given free will. God does not override the power He has given us to choose.
The person who hit my car had a choice: Leave a note and take responsibility — or drive away.
They chose.
God did not make that choice for them.
Understanding free will shifts everything. It determines whether I run toward God in hardship or blame Him for someone else’s decisions.
Did God see what happened? I believe He sees everything.
The person is responsible. God is not.
And in the middle of panic, frustration, and stress, I kept saying out loud: “God, I’m going to trust You.”
Nearly a month later, things worked out in ways only God could orchestrate. Insurance paid a fair settlement. With family generosity and support, I was able to move forward.
But the greater story wasn’t about the car. It was about trust.
Are You in a “Hit and Run” Season?
Maybe life has knocked you down as you were just getting going again.
Maybe something blindsided you.
Maybe you’re in a season where you feel like running.
The Bible never promises a trouble-free life. It does, however, give us guidance for walking through difficulty.
Breathe. Slow down your thoughts. Invite God’s presence.
Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding.
Pray instead of spiraling.
Philippians 4:6–7 encourages us to present everything to God — and promises a peace that surpasses understanding.
Allow trials to mature you.
James 1:2–4 teaches that perseverance develops maturity and depth.
Remember that suffering produces hope.
Romans 5:3–5 shows us the progression: suffering → perseverance → character → hope.
And sometimes?
Let someone carry you.
We are not meant to endure hardship alone. Community matters. One safe, wise, prayerful friend can make the difference between collapse and resilience.
Integrating Faith and Life Skills
At Integrate You (IU), we believe spiritual growth and emotional health work together.
Prayer and Scripture are foundational — but so is learning how to:
Check in with your internal state
Regulate your nervous system
Co-regulate with safe people
Process your story in healthy ways
Engage in spiritually directive prayer that strengthens your relationship with Jesus
Faith is not avoidance. It is integration.
We are invited to live well — even when life hits hard.
When We Run… God Pursues
Here’s one more truth: Even when we run from God, He runs toward us.
He gently draws us back into His presence, not with condemnation — but with care.
So if you are in a “hit and run” season — or you know someone who is — ask yourself:
How can I access the peace that surpasses understanding?
How can I help someone else access it?
Maybe it starts with:
One honest prayer
One regulated breath
One safe conversation
One step toward trust
Life happens. But, so does grace.
And trust, even when shaken, can grow deeper roots. You are invited to live this way — integrated, resilient, anchored.
We are so grateful to have you in the IU community.
Here are 4 call to actions if you like any one of these:
1. Reflective + Gentle Invitation
If you’re in a hit-and-run season, don’t walk it alone.
Pause. Breathe. Bring your honest feelings to God — even the messy ones. Especially the messy ones.
And if you need support, step into community. Reach out. Ask for prayer. Begin the work of integrating your faith with practical tools that strengthen your resilience. At Integrate You, we’re here to walk with you.
Take one step today toward trust.
2. Strong + Direct Activation
Don’t let the hits from life define you. Let it deepen you.
If life has knocked you down, this is your moment to choose: run in fear — or run toward growth.
Commit today to strengthening both your spiritual life and your emotional health. Invest in the tools that build perseverance, character, and hope.
Join us at Integrate You and begin living anchored — not reactive. Your next step matters. Take it.
3. Community-Focused + Relational
Who in your life needs this message right now? Share it with them.
Start a conversation. Pray together. Process together. Heal together.
If you’re ready to grow in faith and emotional resilience inside a safe, Christ-centered space, we invite you to connect with Integrate You.
You don’t have to navigate the hard seasons alone.
Let’s integrate. Let’s grow. Let’s live well.
4. Invitation to Engagement + Practical Step
If this resonated with you, here’s your next step:
• Identify what season you’re in.
• Name what you’re feeling.
• Invite God into it honestly.
• Reach out for support.
And if you’re ready to go deeper — to learn how to regulate your emotions, strengthen your faith, and build lasting resilience — explore what Integrate You offers.
Growth is intentional.
Peace is cultivated.
Trust is built.
Step into it.
