No Pain ~ No Gain

I recently started an exercise routine at a local gym. I have mistreated my body so badly over the last couple of years and I am paying for it now. The pain of the workout is insane at times! There are moments when I am jogging on the treadmill or on the elliptical machine, that physically and mentally I feel as though I can't go on anymore. I continue to push through the pain as long as I can. When I first started, the push through time was not very long at all. As I continue the workouts, I have noticed that the enduring time is increasing. There is still pain but I can endure for a longer period of time now. Jogging five minutes without stopping may not seem impressive to most people but to me it was a major accomplishment!

I was spending some time with God the other morning and He led me to the book of Job. As I read several chapters, I could not help but to ask how Job handled all the pain and suffering that he was enduring. As I continued to read, God revealed that Job did mourn and get discouraged at times and was even rebuked by God during a time that God had given permission for satan to attack him. Job's wife did not help matters either during this time. She lost faith and became a nagging discouragement to him. (Lord, forgive us wives for nagging and discouraging our husbands at times when we think we know best). Even though Job was considered a faithful servant to God, God allowed these hard times for Job only to better him. In the end, Job had grown greatly in his relationship with God and God restored his losses and blessings.

We all have times on the mountain and times in the valley. Of course, we prefer to be on the mountain. But as I continue to study the book of Job, it is reminding me to see how important our time in the valley is for us. It takes that "independent" fleshly mind-set of ours and turns it into a "dependent on the Lord" mind-set and spirit. The time in the valley is when we really grow spiritually. Our spiritual health is just as important as our physical health. Either way, we have to sometimes endure pain and suffering to conquer the healthier and better result for our lives. I hope you will get up and get moving....exercise your spirit with the Lord and exercise your body for the Lord!