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God's ways in my life have always amazed me. I became a Christian in 1991. Through God's grace, love, and mercy, I have overcome nicotine addiction, bad alcohol patterns, sexual issues, and serious anger problems. Over the years, though, my weight climbed steadily until I became (in medical terminology) "morbidly obese."

"I'm happy the way I am," I would rationalize. I felt God nudging me, but I treated His promptings with a strong determination to act on them "tomorrow." First thing, right away, no more excuses … tomorrow. I prayed frequently for discipline to do what I knew God desired, but I kept waiting for the discipline to come through divine inspiration.

When I hit 266 pounds, I was stunned. I had to do something. So I started weight lifting. I didn't recognize the urge to pump iron as spiritual; I just figured it was time to take care of my body. I was seeing with human eyes.

But one morning, about three weeks into my program, I had a startling revelation. I was sweating and struggling to do my last two reps at the leg extension machine, when into my mind popped a question—as clear as if God had spoken aloud: Do I ever work this hard in my Christian life?

That was a turning point in my workout life and my spiritual life.

	Time and time again, as I used machines and free weights, God brought verses to mind that revealed how my physical struggles relate to my spiritual struggles.

Time and time again, as I used machines and free weights, God brought verses to mind that revealed how my physical struggles relate to my spiritual struggles. Here are four parallels God has shown me between my need for physical discipline and my life with Him.

1. The Strength of Weakness
A year ago, when I began working out, I was tempted to let my inadequacies make me feel unworthy to be in a gym. After all, I was not a typical gym bunny: I was a 245-pound woman! I was feeling particularly ridiculous one day, surrounded by perfectly toned bodies, when someone exclaimed how good it was to see me working out. "You're an inspiration," he told me.

What? Me?

Others made similar comments. It seems I was inspiring for exactly the reason I sometimes felt I shouldn't be there: I'm not fit. I'm big and out of shape. Yet I kept showing up and doing the hard work.

Likewise, in my spiritual walk, my failings make me feel I should leave "the big stuff"—leading Bible study, writing on religious topics—to the spiritual greats. I tend to focus on my unworthiness and forget to celebrate my changed heart—the "qualification" Jesus cares about most. My gym experiences remind me of 2 Corinthians 4:7: "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." Christ's power is most visible through my weaknesses and struggles. If I keep showing up—failings and all—others can be blessed.

2. It's Not About Looks
I'd be lying if I said my only motivation to work out is to become healthier. The desire to look better also fuels my trips to the gym. Confronting this motivation made me realize that wanting to look good also drives some of my contributions to the church. Am I as likely to serve when no one will see my actions, when no one will thank me?

Pondering that uncovered another truth: Comparison has no place in my life if I'm going to grow. At the gym, all the beautiful, "buff" women intimidated me. At first, it took all the grit I had not to leave when they came in. But I could sense God's quiet voice: "Are you here to look good?"

In the same way, I'm tempted to make excuses when I feel God asking me to do something I'm uncomfortable with in church. There are so many talented (buff) Christians. Won't I just look stupid or shoddy in comparison? Again, God asks, "Are you trying to look good, or do you want to obey Me?"

If I dwell on others' talents, I become discouraged. When I concentrate on what my muscles are doing under their thick layer of insulation, and when I think about how God is working on the small-hearted ugliness of my inner condition, I get inspired. I think, Wow, I'm really changing!

3. It Takes Work
At the gym, my lazy muscles don't like to be pushed, and it's hard for me to override my pleasure-loving self. However, as my muscles are conditioned, weight training remains work, but it ceases to be agony. Luke 9:23 makes it clear that faith is also sometimes hard, painful even: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Following Jesus involves sacrifice, but honoring Him becomes more natural as I practice it daily.

Prayer, Bible reading, tithing, trying to love others as I love myself, taking on leadership roles—these may always feel like work. It takes perseverance, discipline, to keep me spiritually revitalized and healthy. As surely as my muscles are getting stronger and my intensity levels on the treadmill are increasing, God is helping my spiritual muscles to grow.

4. We Must Press On
Even though God is using the strengthening of my "feeble arms and weak knees" to teach me spiritual lessons, I was still terrified to talk about my spiritual growth through physical fitness because I have so far to go. In my hesitation, I realized the most important lesson of all: I will always have far to go in Christ!

Paul expresses my convictions perfectly in Philippians 3:12-14, where he says, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

I have not arrived—physically or spiritually—but I am showing up, doing the work, and pressing on.

Adapted from Discipleship Journal (Jan./Feb. 2004). Used by permission. Ev Bishop is a freelance writer from Terrace, British Columbia.

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