“God's way of answering the Christian's prayer for more patience, experience, hope and love often is to put him into the furnace of affliction” ~Richard Cecil
“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” ~Arnold H. Glasgow
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:2-4)
If you decide to hit the gym and go for a strenuous workout for the first time, you are bound to experience soreness in your muscles that were not exercised for quite some time. It may be easy to debate whether or not you want to continue working out or quit based on the initial pain. However, I encourage you to quickly realize that you need to push past the pain in order to work your muscles. That's the only way you will get accustomed to stretching your muscle tissues past their comfort level. I had to learn that the hard way by experiencing what experts call, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). "(DOMS) is a common result of physical activity that stresses the muscle tissue beyond what it is accustomed to," says David O. Draper, professor and director of the graduate program in sports medicine/athletic training at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Granted, I was not extremely enthused to jump out of my bed (with sore muscles) the next morning and run to the gym. Nevertheless, it was a reminder that the soreness reflected a natural outcome of my workout. In simple terms, "It was working!" My muscles were shocked and responded immediately to the change of pace and pressure. It was also comforting to know that the soreness is mostly experienced in the beginning stages of a physical activity and would soon ease off after consistent workout sessions.
That is the same mindset we should have when James assures us that the trying of our faith worketh patience. It is not always comfortable or pleasant when we go through the various tests and trials of life, but it is working patience. The larger picture is that patience has a purpose, and that purpose is to mature and complete us in all respects. The soreness from your tears, your long nights of prayer, your constant fasting, and your frequent agitations from what you are facing right now is confirmation that your patience is being worked through the trying of your faith.
Keep on exercising to drop off the necessary "spiritual" weight that has you bound, and remain consistent to see results. For many people who are trying to lose weight through exercising, it can often be disappointing when they plateau. They workout but realize that they are no longer losing weight. On the other hand, if you like to see the glass as half-full, instead of half-empty, it is a true reflection that your body has grown accustomed to your routine and now needs an extra boost. I often encourage people who want to lose weight to evaluate the following three factors: frequency, intensity, and duration. When you have plateaued, it's time to work out more frequently, work out more intensely, or simply work out longer than you are used to.
I encourage you today to not let your faith plateau by bowing out from the test. Don't complain about the frequency (how often), the intensity (how hard) or the duration (how long). Each one has a plan according to God's perfect will. The frequency of the test dictates the need for some stuff to be worked out of you so you can look more like Jesus Christ. The intensity dictates the level of blessing that will follow once you past the test. The duration dictates your finished polish once you come forth as pure gold.
So, just remember..."Now is not the time to give up and throw in the towel!"
