Just a thought I had as I was driving to the gym today:
Our muscles only grow when they are challenged. It is only when they are torn and broken down that they grow back bigger and stronger. It's not the easy reps; it's those last few grueling reps, when we push through the pain and keep going even when we want to stop, that tear down our muscle fibers and force them to grow.
It is the very same with our FAITH. It is only when we are challenged, when we are torn and broken down, when we have to struggle and fight through the pain, that our faith grows stronger. Just like we won't get results in the gym if we try to avoid pain and never challenge ourselves, if we never have to struggle and go through hard times in our lives, then we'll never grow into the person God wants us to be.
I heard a preacher once say that God doesn't waste our pain. It's true. Our struggles and challenges are usually what draw us closer to God more so than the easy times. The hard times force us to cry out to Him, to cling to Him. We learn to depend on and trust in God to bring us through, because we know that there is no way we can do it on our own.
Just as those last few painful reps in the gym are what really counts when lifting weights, it's the pain and the struggles that help us to grow as a person. And when we hold on to our faith, when we press on and keep trusting in God no matter what, when we finally get through the struggle and the pain, the end result is that our faith is so much stronger than it was before.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Our muscles only grow when they are challenged. It is only when they are torn and broken down that they grow back bigger and stronger. It's not the easy reps; it's those last few grueling reps, when we push through the pain and keep going even when we want to stop, that tear down our muscle fibers and force them to grow.
It is the very same with our FAITH. It is only when we are challenged, when we are torn and broken down, when we have to struggle and fight through the pain, that our faith grows stronger. Just like we won't get results in the gym if we try to avoid pain and never challenge ourselves, if we never have to struggle and go through hard times in our lives, then we'll never grow into the person God wants us to be.
I heard a preacher once say that God doesn't waste our pain. It's true. Our struggles and challenges are usually what draw us closer to God more so than the easy times. The hard times force us to cry out to Him, to cling to Him. We learn to depend on and trust in God to bring us through, because we know that there is no way we can do it on our own.
Just as those last few painful reps in the gym are what really counts when lifting weights, it's the pain and the struggles that help us to grow as a person. And when we hold on to our faith, when we press on and keep trusting in God no matter what, when we finally get through the struggle and the pain, the end result is that our faith is so much stronger than it was before.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:24
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope...
Romans 5:3-4
Thanks for this post! It's exactly what I have needed lately! You are such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
ReplyDelete