Rise Again
Exercising is something that I’ve always wanted to do regularly but I’ve always struggled with it. But two summers ago, my views on exercise changed when I met up with my good friend, Moon. She asked me if I had heard about Peloton. She went on to relate how she got the bike and is doing the video exercises and she loved it. I told her that I would like to do regular exercise but that I couldn’t afford to buy a Peloton bike. She then mentioned something that would change the whole way that I thought about Peloton. Moon said that I don’t have to get a bike. In fact, she said that I can use her membership to access the videos for free. “Free” was the right incentive for me to give Peloton a try. But the fact that my good friend was vouching for it, was another reason why I was willing to give it a try.
This reminded me of how powerful our testimony is about our walk with Jesus. When we are excited about Jesus, it’s a force that exudes from us and we cannot help talking about Him. It’s like a spring that bubbles from within us. When we can share about how Jesus gives us peace amidst our struggles, it’s more effective than the best sermon about the topic.
I started to use the app to exercise. I started off slow, doing some walking outside while listening to the coaching of the instructor. Exercising while listening to the promptings of the instructor made me feel a lot more productive than if I were just walking without listening to the video. After a while, I started to get to know the instructors and looked forward to “spending time” with them. Little by little, I started adding a few more additions to the workout. I added light weight training and did some running on the treadmill. I even added a stretch at the end of the workout.
After months or regular workouts, I was expecting that I would see some benefits of these exercises, that I would look slimmer, or that I could be stronger. I was disappointed that the number on the bathroom scale remained the same and I didn’t feel any more fit or strong. It was a bit disappointing not to see any perceptible improvements after putting in hours of exercise.
But one day last week, I was showing something to the physical therapist, Jesse. My Mother-in-law was having knee pain and I was showing Jesse her swollen knee cap. She was sitting on a chair, so I was squatting for a while, while talking to Jesse. After giving me his assessment of my Mother-in-law’s knees, he remarked to me, “by the way, you impress me with your squatting. Most people cannot squat for so long and to hold that position for a length of time.” His remark made me realize that my legs did get much stronger—I just had not noticed the improvement because they were imperceptible. Unbeknownst to me, my exercises were making a difference.
There is a spiritual parallel that I wanted to point out. As a Christian, sometimes it’s hard to see when we are growing spiritually. We may faithfully do our devotions, attend church, pray but we don’t feel that we are stronger Christians. It may seem that those things are not making much of a difference. But you are getting strengthened in faith, even if you may not feel it. “Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1 You may not see your growth in faith but you may find yourself being more faithful, more trusting in Him, especially when there is a sudden crisis.
I had built up a good routine with the exercises but there were some days when I really did not feel like doing it. I knew that I should do it but the thought of starting the video and getting on the treadmill was something that my flesh did not want to do. I especially dreaded when they instructed me to raise the incline. I hated the feeling of heaviness on my thighs when I raised the incline. But one thing kept me going. I had every confidence in the instructor, and knew that the instructor would bring me to the end, I just needed to follow their lead. And I knew that the video was going to end at some point. Sometimes they told me to raise the incline and I dutifully obeyed and sometimes they didn’t have that. It was better for me not to know, I just need to trust in the instructor and follow their lead.
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:2. Sometimes, it is better that we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. It is enough just to put one foot in front of the other, putting our hands in Jesus, trusting in His providence and care. As the old hymn goes, “I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.”
I praise God that I’ve finally found an exercise routine that I could weave into my daily schedule. Sometimes it’s easy to get on the treadmill and sometimes it takes every ounce of willpower not to climb back into bed. And there are many days when I actually don’t do exercises. But I don’t give up altogether and say I’m going to forget about my fitness goals because I missed some days, I just get back to my routine. “For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.” Proverbs 24:16
In my spiritual race and my physical “race,” I am thankful that God is faithful and trustworthy, even when I am not.