Muscles

Recently little grands and I compared muscles. The six-year-old thinks he has a six pack (those are ribs but I’m not telling). The nine-year-old didn’t comment, just grinned as his active body is filling out. But grammy still has her biceps (well the skin below them isn’t as attractive). Lately it’s my spiritual muscles I have a hard time flexing.

It’s hard work to grow those muscles. The kind of work we’d prefer to avoid. Going through a tragedy like the death of a child. Working through a cancer battle. Losing a spouse. And so many others: financial setbacks, infidelity/divorces, estranged family, job loss, natural disasters, wars. Us humans face daily challenges.

These can either help our spiritual muscles become rock hard or they can defeat us. This is the paradox: God’s strength is what flexes our muscles. The workouts are trust, obedience, daily disciplines of prayer/Bible study, and living out His love to others.

A trip to the mountains revealed my stamina could use a bit of work. My leg muscles were not as toned as I thought. And this…the deep sorrow I harbor (but hide well) is always ready to brim over. Yet mountain beauty took my breath away, two dear friends came by and encouraged my heart, and family times (even without our PopPop) were joyful.

The mountains also revealed Whose strength will get me through, get you through. Just when we are at the end of ourselves, we often have a breakthrough. Sitting out on the deck, tears streaming, I watched the deep fog of the Smoky Mountains roll up towards me and I was enveloped in clouds. Closing my eyes I listened to the quiet. When I looked again, sun was dappling the brook below and bird calls filled the air.

God sees us enveloped in our cloud of troubles. His Spirit speaks to us in quiet ways: deep sighs we exhale, shaky breaths inhaled. Maybe it’s a song playing the next time we get in the car, or a hug from a friend, or a note in the mail, or a verse from the Bible revealed in a whole new light. Our spiritual muscles have worked harder, may even be a bit sore – but the work produces a soul calm.

The day in and day out of all these things – our whys, what nows, how longs – teach us to trust and surrender. What I’ve come to realize is what Paul was trying to tell us as he struggled with his infirmity and with all the persecution he faced: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ “ (2Corinthians 12:9b NIV) and “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Corinthians 12:10b NIV)

Oh how I detest the sudden tears, the aching in my heart. I don’t like asking others for help or trying to do the things my hubby used to do. But in six short months – as I’ve walked this lonely, hard, heart-wrenching road – I’ve had to use my spiritual muscle. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 BSB)

If you’re struggling today, do not be dismayed. Beyond our comprehension there is hope…there is eternity (without tears, pain, suffering)…there is always, ever Jesus.