A few weeks ago, I decided to up my exercise routine. I began taking it more seriously by assigning dedicated time slots in my weekly schedule. This decision wasn’t random—it came after I started experiencing persistent aches and discomfort. I would go to bed tired and wake up even more tired. Whether I was sitting or lying down, my body constantly complained.
One night, while sitting on my bed praying, I felt the urge to get up and pace the floor. Within minutes, the headache and discomfort I had been feeling disappeared. Yes—praise God! But I realized it wasn’t only the prayer that brought relief; it was the movement itself.
I kept this up for a few more days and saw consistent improvement. My body was responding positively to activity. Soon after, I resumed swimming, which has been incredibly refreshing. My arms and shoulders now feel like they’re about to fall off—but as the saying goes, “no pain, no gain.”
While this post isn’t strictly about exercise, I’ll encourage you to take care of your physical body—move often, maintain a healthy diet, and prioritize wellness.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how some of the most beneficial things in life are also the most challenging. Swimming, as an example, strengthens my heart and lungs, even though it’s my limbs and back doing the hard work. Sometimes, in life, we must engage one part of ourselves to benefit another.
In other words; to reap, you must sow. To receive, you must give. Progress requires effort.
These are not times to be passive, disengaged, or sedentary. Every stage of life requires faith—and faith is always active. It is confidence in God expressed through action. Faith is not still.
Life demands intentional action. Actions guided by purpose are bound to produce desirable rewards. You will never outgrow the need for faith.
Look at Habakkuk 2:2–4. See how many action words are packed into just a few verses:
“Then the Lord answered me and said:
‘Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.’
‘Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.’”
—Habakkuk 2:2–4 (NKJV)
These verses contain divine actions and instructions to be performed by us. And none of them are easy.
Every phase in life demands movement on our part to go through it. Faith may require you to make bold moves, bold statements, brave decisions, or uncomfortable changes.
We often shrink back out of fear—fear of failure, criticism, or the unknown. We ask ourselves, “What if?” What if it something goes wrong? What if I lose? What if I get injured?
Sometimes we stay idle because it feels easier, it feels calmer, it feels safer. God didn’t create us to be ordinary. There is nothing basic about us. We’re not designed to be average. God is Extra! He does extraordinary things—exceedingly, abundantly more—and He expects us to reflect that same excellence.
Just look at creation. Look at how God placed us above it all—in beauty, authority, intelligence, and spiritual capacity. It speaks a lot about His intentions towards us.
I don’t want to live a reflexive life—a life of default settings. I want my faith in active mode, not passive. Life is not meant to be lived on autopilot.
Just like exercise, faith requires discipline, time, endurance and sometimes pain. “Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” You will eventually notice your stamina increasing. Your heart not easily troubled by minimal thugs and pressures.
God has invested so much in you. Don’t let that potential lie dormant. You must match His energy. Utilize the creativity that He has put in you.
Whatever “next level” means for you—it starts with movement. People may doubt your ability. They may tell you that you’re not what they’re looking for. They may not believe you are good enough. That’s okay. Make up your mind to escape the orbit of mediocrity anyway. Refuse to settle in the place where there is no movement, no progress, and no accomplishment.
Some people mean well but harm others by enabling idleness. That kind of negligence leads to decline. True love and respect empower, encourage, and engage.
Life is meant to be beautiful. And you get out of it what you put in. Have Faith in God and He will respond with the desires of your heart.
Yes, it takes effort. Yes, you must be consistent.
Even with sore muscles and tired limbs, you must keep showing up. If you quit at the first feeling of pain, you set yourself up for regression. My personal trainer recommends stretching before and after each session. My reaction? “Ugh! More effort, more time.” But every time, those stretches reduce the discomfort and enhance my results. So, I am also training myself to do away with the complaints.
The pain of intentionality is far more bearable than the pain of disease and poverty. The pain of active faith is far more rewarding than the pain of doing nothing.
So—what do you want to see in your life?
Remember who God is.
There is nothing He cannot do.
Exercise your faith in Him by stepping into action.
Very important. Good stretches and frequent movement have been my non-negotiables. Applying this concept to other areas of my life has definitely been a faith action. Great read!
So well said. I’m going to put on my shoes now and go for a walk.