All I needed was a high
school physical education credit for my son. Why did something so simple take
on a life of its own? Destined to learn about types of exercise, whether I was
allergic to them or not, suddenly became essential.
Discovery?
There were lessons hidden much deeper than what I perceived on the pages of my
son’s textbook.
What did
the Bible say about exercise? I searched and found 1Timothy 4:8 (Amplified). “For
physical training is of some value (useful for a little). But godliness
(spiritual training) is useful and of value in every way…”
There are rewards to physical exercise, but even greater promises result from the exercise of our faith in the One who has provided all good things.
The
medical world and media slammed two benefits of exercise home to me. Exercise
prevents our bodies from disease, and physical exertion relieves stress. So
what did the scripture mean when it said there was something better? How did
God exercise faith?
When force meets resistance, strength
is gained and developed… I
mulled over this tidbit, but inspiration didn’t snag me. I strolled to the
staircase wall and shoved it with both hands. Isometric. Muscular contraction exerted against an immovable object. I pushed
harder. Then my blur of understanding became clear as God showed me how
consistency and steadfastness would ultimately build my strength of faith.
Though circumstances could come against my day and thrust our school into deadlock, I needed to keep going. No matter what.
It's in pushing forward. Simple terms?
Though circumstances could come against my day and thrust our school into
deadlock, I needed to keep going. No matter what. Push through that hard hour
when learning didn’t seem to soak into my child’s head, the frustrating day
when life swallowed my goals and spoke of unfruitfulness, that upsetting year
when a relationship problem and illness tried to devour me. Persevere. And, the
real test? Withstanding with joy.
So
what was isotonic exercise? Muscular
contraction resulting from force against movable objects… Or, strength of
faith built by pushing away things that strove to subdue me. Spiritual and
physical warfare. What weighed me down and did its best to strangle, choke, and
overpower me? Small things like the disruption of telephone or doorbell. Hard
things like a rebellious teenager, a looming financial disaster, or long term
illness? The real test? Fighting while keeping my composure and battling when
the enemy’s badgering voice told me I was a failure at every turn.
David
at Ziklag is an example of exercising faith in the midst of chaos. (1 Samuel
30:1-10). This account showed me the power
behind overcoming faith. David and his men came home to find their city invaded
by the Amalekites. Fire had demolished their homes and their wives and children
had been taken captive. His human response? David and his men wanted to
despair. They had lost everything. David’s own men talked of stoning him.
But the scriptures tell us David
encouraged himself in the Lord. He
turned to his only Hope, and acted on what God told him to do. As a result, a
brave and conquering rescue took place, and all lost was recovered. Two days
after the lowest point in David's life, he was crowned King of Israel.
The real test? Fighting while keeping my composure and battling when the enemy’s badgering voice told me I was a failure at every turn.
There
are rewards to physical exercise, but even greater promises result from the exercise
of our faith in the One who has provided all good things.The endeavors never cease, the
need for exercise never diminishes. Don’t plunge into burnout. Be steadfast
and consistent. Resist your enemy.
Let’s have dialog about the
things you feel are subjecting you to burnout. What can you do to exercise
your faith in these areas?
Jeremiah 9:24
2 Timothy 4:7
1Timothy 6:12
When God Whispers
