In Scripture, Solomon speaks warmly about the benefits that come with the intentional decision of doing hard things (Prov. 14:23, Eccl. 5:18-20), and this is even verified by our biological makeup. There have been numerous studies done that reveal one simple reality: Intentionally choosing to do hard things is good for your brain.[1] And in particular, when there is physical stimuli evoked, the benefit is even greater.[2] But what does this have to do with our spiritual health?
In no way am I stating that everyone needs to start training for a marathon, but what I am saying is that we—as Christians—need to be doing hard things, and one of those things is exercise. But besides exercise being physiologically, neurologically, and physically beneficial for us, what are some spiritual implications of choosing to do hard things in exercise?
Exercise will promote proper ordering of one’s spiritual life
Let us revisit the running example. For that first month of committed running, you feel like an imposter, and everything in your body is telling you to stop, but your mind knows that this is good for you. You are determined to keep going. Eventually, your body adjusts, and you begin to enjoy running, endorphin rush and all. What was once a hard decision becomes easy.
With exercise, there is a direct physical, neurological and psychological benefit, but there are also indirect benefits that we may not even realize.[3] Doing hard things in exercise can promote right ordering in our lives and ease our opportunities to further establish our faith in God.
Once I had done something that I viewed as an impossibility, worldly fears and anxiety faded when God had called me to something greater. I was much less hesitant to move across the country by myself because I could look back at all the hard things that I had done: My earthly worries were no longer a deterrent to my spiritual calling. This brings to mind the story of the rich, young ruler (Matthew 19:16–30) contrasted with the call of the disciples: the former lacked the proper ordering of his life despite being “spiritually qualified,” while the latter were able to walk away from their careers & fortunes for the opportunity to follow Jesus’ calling.
Exercise is the practice of stewarding your body
Sometimes, as Christians, we focus on the soul to the detriment of the body; we are adamant about stewarding our time in prayer and Scripture and stewarding our finances by setting aside a portion for God’s mission and His church, but we rarely think of stewarding our physical body in the same way. However, by definition, stewardship implies that we are not the owners of what we are given, but are called to care well for what has been entrusted to us—in terms of our physical body, one aspect of this is regular exercise.
Because exercise provides multifaceted benefits to our overall wellbeing, we should consider it necessary to the Christian life. Exercise can (and should) look different for each person.
I enjoy rowing and weightlifting, but I have friends who participate in jiu-jitsu, long-distance running, yoga, and club soccer. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy doing and let it challenge you. Despite what culture may say, there is no “right way” to exercise. As long as you are engaging in exercise regularly and caring for your body well while doing it, then proper stewardship is taking place.
Exercise is an act of community
Almost all forms of exercise will bring you into community with others, either directly or by association. Because regular exercise is a hard thing to do, you are more likely to form a bond with others who are choosing to do the same, which gives you a community of friends who rally around you as you choose to do hard things. This is why organized groups like CrossFit, running clubs, and OrangeTheory have skyrocketed in popularity: Not only is there an infused accountability, but it presents a community of people to encourage and support you as you do hard things.
I have been able to have many conversations with people during races that I have competed in, as well as during the training process. Not only have these conversations presented opportunities to share the Gospel, but they regularly remind me how God has designed our lives to be lived in relationship with others (Eccl. 4:9–12).
It is true that if you exercise, you will live 5-10 years longer.[4] But for the Christian, our goal is not to steward our body for the sole purpose of continued living, because we believe a greater life is to come after this earthly life. We should exercise not to avoid death, but to properly care for the gifts that have been entrusted to us—our physical bodies, our families, our friends. Exercise not only enables us to care for ourselves, it extends our opportunities to serve those whom we love most. And it is for these reasons we wake up an hour early and lace up those running shoes, to do the hard things that God has asked of us.
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