Proof of spending time in the Word is endurance

Last week my biceps were so sore from water skiing that I could hardly lift a gallon of milk. And this week, I can hardly sit on the toilet – it’s brutal getting down, painful getting up, and the toilet seat presses right onto my sore glutes and hamstrings. Go ahead and giggle. The struggle is real.  As uncomfortable as tight muscles can be, I love being sore because it’s proof that I worked hard and that I’m building strength.

If sore muscles and building strength are evidence of physical training, what’s the proof of spiritual training?

1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  According to this verse, the value of spiritual training is endless, which I completely agree with; but what I’m discovering lately is, proof that I’ve been spending time in the Word is my endurance increases. The more time I spend in the Word, or pray, or listen for the Lord to speak, the more able I am to endure whatever anxiety, fear, or anger comes my way.

Growing up playing volleyball, at the beginning of every season the captains of the team organized conditioning practice.  This practice was completely separate from our normal bump, set, spike drills and did not even involve a volleyball; instead, it consisted of sprints, running up and down the bleachers, ab exercises, and strength training. The point of conditioning was less about learning a specific skill and more about helping our bodies adapt or endure through an exercise program. The more endurance we built up in conditioning practice, the longer and stronger we could play at our peak performance during a vigorous match. 

What’s interesting to me is, when I notice that I’m out of breath quickly or struggling to lift my over packed beast of a suitcase into my trunk, the first thing out of my mouth is “Oh my gosh, I am so out of shape.”  Or – “Man, I need to hit the gym.” I see the evidence of weakness, and know the solution is to increase my physical training.

But when I feel anxious, or fearful, or I cling to anger like a life preserver, my first response isn’t, “When was the last time I was in the Word?” It’s more like, “This sucks. How do I make this stop? What’s wrong with me?” And further down the anxious rabbit hole I go. 

The last time I suffered an anxiety attack, I got mad that the Lord didn’t stop my anxiety in its tracks. With a tight chest and shallow breath, I accusingly cried out to Him saying, “God! Break me free from this!  I know you can – so why aren’t you? Break me free!”

I recited all the scripture I’ve locked into my mind for moments such as this. I proclaimed the name of Jesus. I cried out for help. Yet there I was, stuck in the trap of anxiety.

In that moment, I was so consumed with the fact that God hadn’t broken me free from the anxiety right when I wanted him to, that I lost sight of the truth that even though life with Jesus is not a guarantee that I will be freed from every hardship that comes my way, it is an absolute promise that I will be able to endure it. 

Spending time reading the Bible is not a “get out of anxiety free” card.  BUT it is an assurance and a guarantee that I will be able to endure. 

The more time I spend in the Word, the more I can lock the truth that Jesus will not let me go into my memory.  The more I can claim His victory over the evil one.  The more I can remember the truth that this too shall pass, that with Christ I am able to endure anything.

Just like strength training will enable me to lift heavier objects and run farther distances without losing my breath, spending time in the Word will give me strength and remind me that God is in control. The problem is, when I’m slacking in the “getting in the Word” department, my heart gets out of shape and I lose sight of that truth. 

If we don’t take the time to condition our bodies, we can’t expect them to up and run a half marathon out of nowhere.  And the same goes with spiritual training.  If we want to see the proof, endurance in moments of weakness, we need to constantly and consistently prepare our hearts. 

I don’t know about you but I need to hit the “weights” and build up my spiritual endurance.  I want to be so strong that whenever weakness shows its face, there will be absolutely no doubt in my mind that I am able to endure.  Together let's bathe ourselves in the Word and Truth of our heavenly Father and savior Jesus Christ. Let's fix our eyes on His truth, make Jesus’ name known, and endure any storm that comes our way.

Experiencing the Power of Scripture

I was in junior high when I first experienced the power of Scripture; from that day on, I have never doubted that God's word is living and active.  Here's what happened.

We finally arrived at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota where we had driven 6 long hours crammed in a rickety, old church van.  Four middle school girls climbed onto one skinny, twin-long college dorm room bed, settling in for the first night of our junior high retreat weekend. We chatted nervously and excitedly as we imagined the fun we were going to have over the next few days.

The four of us, three who knew each other and one new but quickly welcomed face, weren’t your average middle school girls.  We were seasoned believers, having grown up learning about Jesus.  We enjoyed having deep conversations during our bible studies; our desire for understanding the word of God ran deep.

With our backs against the wall and legs converging in the center of the tiny bed, we spoke in whispers as we’d already been given the warning for lights out.  Our soft chatter bobbed seamlessly from one topic to the next; we talked about cute boys on the trip, declared our hopes and excitements for the weekend, and then, somehow, made our way to scarier things in our world like the devil and his sneaky ways. Suddenly, the weight of fear descended on us like a heavy fog.  None of us were strangers to fear, but this felt different.  We pulled the blanket up over our knees, scooted a little closer to each other and became very aware of how dark it was in the room. 

As we clung to each other, too spooked to get up and turn on another light, I unexpectedly recalled that one of our leaders challenged us to read Psalm 139 sometime during the weekend. Quickly, I said, “I don’t know why, but I think we should read Psalm 139 right now.” 

Anxious to do anything to draw our attention away from fear, we scrambled for our Bibles and read the words of Psalm 139 out loud.  “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”  Taking turns, we came to verses 11-12 that say, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (NIV) 

After reading these verses we paused, looked at each other with wide eyes, and one of us said what we were all thinking – “You guys, I feel like the darkness we felt disappeared as soon as we read those words…” Completely astonished, we agreed that we weren't afraid anymore; our fear instantly dissipated.

For the first time in all of our lives, the Word of God jumped off the pages and came alive in our midst. It was hard to wrap our minds around the fact that not only had He given our retreat leader the inkling to tell us to read Psalm 139, but He also laid it on my heart in the exact moment that we needed to experience the truth of verses 11 and 12.  We were meant to read those verses – through His word, the Lord spoke truth over our tiny college dorm room.

This experience in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota showed me that God’s word truly is living and active. It taught me that these aren’t just words on a page; they’re words that are able to impact us every time we read them.  

Whenever I open my Bible, I want to read with expectancy and trust that He will speak. I want to remember that every letter, every syllable, every pause of punctuation in His word is God-breathed. Every single word has power. 

- print in the image by Ruth Chou Simons -