Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant
A few years ago, one of my daughters pushed herself to the limit during a cross-country race. As a runner myself, I could see what was happening. I tracked her through each stage of the course, running from one vantage point to the next, watching her form, her breathing, her stride. I could see that she was struggling, but I could also see that she wanted to push through—she wanted to rise stronger than ever and have a PR (personal record).
Then, at mile two of the three-mile race, she collapsed.
I was waiting for her at mile 2.25 when one of her friends ran up to me. “She’s down,” they said.
Without hesitation, I ran back to her as fast as I could. When I reached her, she was on the ground—dehydrated, exhausted, spent. All I could do in that moment was hold her. I sat with her, cradling her in my arms, waiting for the paramedics. She quickly recovered, thanks to the care of those around us, but I will never forget that moment. As a father, in the midst of her pain and exhaustion, I got to hold her.
That is God’s love for us.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son—a young man who squanders his inheritance and, in desperation, decides to return home. He doesn’t expect much, maybe just a place as a servant. But what happens instead?
Luke 15:20 says, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
That is who God is. When we are down—from exhaustion, failure, sin, or just the weight of the world—He doesn’t wait for us to get back up and clean ourselves off. He sees us from a distance. He runs to us. And He holds us.
In Nehemiah 4:14, we find another powerful image of God’s heart for us: “‘Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.’”
Nehemiah knew the battle was bigger than just rebuilding walls—it was about fighting for the future of their families and their faith. As parents, leaders, and fundraisers, we face battles too. Whether it’s fighting for our families, leading a ministry, or raising money, God has called us to fight for something bigger than ourselves. And just like Nehemiah’s people, we don’t fight alone. God sees us, strengthens us, and runs to us when we need Him most.
Whether we are leading a ministry, running a nonprofit, or simply asking for support, we often push ourselves to the limit. We run hard, striving to meet the need, and sometimes we feel like we’re about to collapse.
But what if, in those moments, we remembered that God is eagerly tracking us? That His watchful eyes see us? That He is running toward us, ready to catch us when we fall?
Funding our ministries is an act of faith. We put ourselves out there, share our vision, and trust that God will provide. And sometimes, when we feel like we’ve reached the end of our strength, we need to simply let the Father hold us—to rest in His presence and trust that He is working.
That day at the race, I would have given anything to take my daughter’s exhaustion upon myself. But I couldn’t. What I could do, though, was be there. I could run to her. I could hold her. And in that moment, I realized—what a gift it was to hold my child in her weakness.
God feels the same way about us.
So wherever you are today—whether you’re running strong, pushing through exhaustion, or feeling like you’ve collapsed on the course—know this: God sees you. He loves you. And He is running toward you, arms open wide.
We’ve been privileged to help many organizations be more effective in their fundraising by learning and implementing relational fundraising principles in their work with donors. Want to talk?