Exercise

Back in September Mark and I joined Hosa gym across the street in the opposite apartment complex. I have developed a gym routine of working the circuit of 14 weight machines plus one of three aerobic machines after using the weights. We use machines that work our legs, abs, and arms. When I first started, I could hardly lift any weight. I would put the arm curl machine on 10 pounds and maybe do 3 reps. At first I sat on one machine to push the bar with my feet and could push only about 30 pounds. We have a machine where we lay on our stomachs and kick back to lift the weights. I think I started at 40 pounds. Those first few days were hard; I could barely lift any weights. When I woke up the next morning, I knew I had used muscles that hadn’t been used in a long time. After a few days of that, I was sore, not in pain, but feeling like a massage or hot tub would feel really good.  Because I felt so much better physically and mentally after exercising, I kept at it.  Gradually I discovered I could do more reps without any trouble. Eventually I added more weight with fewer reps. Then more reps at the higher weight. Wait, what’s happening here? Am I getting stronger? Is my body getting used to working out? I’m not tired and sore anymore. Now after six months, I’ve added more weight and increased reps on certain machines. Some are still difficult to do but I keep trying. Mark thinks my body is changing. Yes, sometimes my muscles feel tighter and firmer than I remember, but I don’t see any difference.

Then it hit me. Physical exercise has a spiritual parallel. As we exercise our bodies, they change, they develop. Isn't this true of our spirits and hearts as well? It takes hard work, stretching, uncomfortableness, and effort to exercise our faith in Jesus. If life is easy with no hardships, what's the point of trusting Jesus? If we don't have sin, why do we need a Savior? Trials reveal our need. They reveal our idols. What things do I feel I must have to live? What can't I live without? Certain things, or something different? What if we made our relationship with Jesus the priority? What would that look like? Would it look like what we think? What does life look like when I can't see the end?

As I pondered the parallels, I noticed that we often don’t see our own spiritual growth. We don’t feel like we are changing, growing. But others see it. Walking by faith in Jesus Christ often looks like walking blindly, but it’s not. It’s putting our trust in the One who is completely trustworthy and obeying where He leads us. That might mean difficult times, suffering, not seeing the results yet. But growth in Christ comes through perseverance, faithfulness, and one-step-in-front-of-the-other days. It helps to soak in the Word of God with passages like the following from 2 Peter 1:

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, ⁴ by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Emphases mine)