At the Lifestyle Medicine Conference I attended this last week, I took a resistance training workshop. In it we learned the importance of resistance exercises for our overall health and how to prescribe resistance training to our patients. We even got to do a little weight lifting with the past winner of California’s Strongest Man Competition, Dr. Andrew Mock.
When talking about heart health, everyone thinks of aerobic exercise, such as walking or running. This form of exercise is important, but recent research has found that resistance training is also essential for good heart health.
Resistance training is also good for our spiritual health. Just as muscles grow when stress is put on them, so our faith will grow as we face trials in our walk with Christ. When our faith is stressed, pushed to the limit, it becomes stronger and better prepared to face whatever comes next.
This is why James said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NLT).
Resistance training takes hard work. It’s not always enjoyable, but, when it comes to your health, it’s worth it. The same goes for our Christian walk. God uses trials to help your faith grow stronger each day. Trials are resistance training for your soul.
So, don’t give up when trials come your way. Don’t throw in the towel when you face resistance in your walk with Christ. Instead, let the trials make you stronger in your faith, till you are “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” If you do, someday soon, you’ll hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter in the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). May that day come soon!