Come to the YMCA any Monday through Thursday around 6:30 a.m., and you will see me there. I start with a half hour on the elliptical (so I can read without falling on my face) and then do 15-20 minutes of weightlifting. Now you may have noticed: I haven’t really changed much. Do you know why? Every week, I go the same speeds and lift the same weights. If I wanted to get stronger, I’d need more resistance. That’s how muscles grow: you tear them, and then as your body goes to heal, the cells fuse with the existing muscle, making it bigger and stronger. There is strength in healing. Growth doesn’t happen by doing the same things over and over, nor does it occur when things are easy or effortless. We grow when we confront our weak areas head-on and push past our usual limits – even though it hurts.
That’s what James was talking about when he wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (Jam. 1:2). To our pain-averse and pleasure-obsessed ears, that sounds bizarre, but let him finish: “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jam. 1:3-4). James isn’t a masochist: the goal isn’t the pain but the growth that results as God heals it. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11).
Pain came along as a consequence of sin (cf. Gen. 3:16-18). Yet, God is so good, He redeems it. “All things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose,” Paul wrote (Rom. 8:28). Now, that’s not the same as saying “all things are good.” There are painful things we go through because of the sin in the world that God never intended to be a part of His good creation. Yet, just like our muscles grow as our body heals after a rigorous workout, God makes things work together so that even our suffering can glorify Him and help us become more like Jesus. Peter said that when we suffer as Christians, we share in Christ’s suffering and “the Spirit of glory and of God rests” upon us (1 Pet. 4:13-16). God comes and heals our torn places, and it leaves us stronger.
Then the stronger we get, the more opportunities we have to glorify God! Our struggles take on new meaning as they allow to us become examples of Christ’s perfect patience (cf. 1 Tim. 1:16). Healing we have experienced enables us to comfort others (cf. 2 Cor 1:3-5). Our burden becomes light (cf. Matt. 11:30). So, don’t be afraid to push yourself. Don’t be discouraged when you encounter some painful resistance. If you’ll work with Him, God will use it to help you grow.
God wants to strengthen us. Let’s get to work with “Stronger”.