I try to get up and move my body in some way every day. I enjoy walking, especially getting outside under a blue sky. Other days I go to the gym. The discipline of exercise benefits the whole of my life. I stay healthier, I think better, and I’m kinder with people.

At the gym I always start using the weights and realize once again the work involved. Trainers use the phrase “resistance training” for a reason. My muscles benefit from the stress of pushing and pulling, even as they complain.

The writer of Hebrews pointed out the value of discipline the Lord brings into the life of his followers. He wrote:

God disciplines us for our good, in order that we might share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The challenges I face serve to train me, and allow me to share in God’s holiness. It turns my attitude around when I go from, This stinks, how do I get out of this situation? to What might the Lord have to me in the middle of such a hard time?

Discipline may not feel delightful in the moment, whether it be at the gym or in middle of demanding situations. But seeing these times as the Lord’s training rather than his punishment allows me to reap a depth of character and eventually peace. Not so pleasant today, but worth it tomorrow.

Hebrews 12 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Ambitious Studio* – Rick Barrett