Strapped in, Holding on, and Getting Stronger

I’m in my weighted-vest era. Once a day, I strap on a 20 lb. contraption that looks more like a tactical bullet-proof vest than fad exercise equipment for middle-age women waging war with perimenopause. In my urban neighborhood, it’s not uncommon for us to guess “gunshots or fireworks,” so as I walk, I keep waiting for someone to ask if I missed my ride to a SWAT team raid.

My weighted vest adventure began months ago, as I listened to my girlfriends extol the osteoporosis-fighting benefits of wearing this contraption while doing the dishes, laundry, or watching TV. Vest-wearing friends reported weight loss, and others raved about a reduction in aches and pains because of stronger muscles. All of that appealed to me!

I was skeptical, but I purchased a vest anyway. Wrestling the contraption over my shoulders worked up decent pre-workout sweat. Wearing the extra weight felt like reliving the years when my kids were toddlers, and they would cling to my body all the time. Next, I set out for a walk. I listened to online influencers who warned to start slow and wear the vest for fifteen minutes a day until my body adapted to the new weight.

Six weeks later, I’m a weighted vest evangelist. It’s surprising how my body has adapted to the extra weight. I often forget that I’m wearing the vest during my daily three- to four-mile walks. Even though I’ve been lifting weights since my teens, I enjoy feeling this newfound strength.

Life is like that sometimes. New strength can emerge during our challenging seasons.

Have you ever encountered a new situation that weighed heavily on your life, and at first, it felt like the weight would overwhelm you? Situations that began with sleepless nights, endless tears, and even hopeless moments. Maybe it was your cancer diagnosis, caregiving for ailing loved ones, or a family crisis you didn’t see coming. At first, you feel like you’re trapped in a lead vest so heavy you can barely rise from your bed. You want God to fix it. Now.

However, instead of an instant miracle, God takes His time to give you a different but deeper miracle.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 NLT

Over time, as we invite God into our circumstances through prayer and meditation on His presence and promises, we discover a daily strength that can only come from Him.

One day at a time, we realize we’re making it. To our surprise, we can even smile sometimes. We see how the combination of worship, studying God’s Word, and prayer opens up heaven-to-earth conduits of connection, allowing God’s power and presence to be sensed and absorbed in our hearts and minds. Yes, weight is still there, but we have God’s wisdom to help us carry it.

How many of us can look back to see how God used stress to make us stronger? We can’t explain it, but we celebrate it!

Do you need to ask God to help you with the extra weight? Let’s do this together:

First, obsessing and overthinking are heavy emotional weights that turn our hard situations into suffering. A popular recovery slogan is, “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”

Therefore, God invites us to give Him any unhealthy or harmful thoughts or obsessions that create fear, anxiety, or disappointment within us.

“Now I will take the load from your shoulders;
I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.”
Psalm 81:6 NLT

In this context, God was speaking to the oppressive mental and emotional suffering the Israelites faced in circumstances where they had no control. We can relate, right? God wants to lift all of that from our shoulders. Yes, please!

Second, and this is one to pay attention to: You aren’t bothering God with your problems. Ever. God isn’t bothered when you ask Him for help. He wants you to!

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NLT

Today, have you sensed God whispering to you about stress weight that’s been too heavy for you? What are you overthinking or obsessing about right now? Give it to Him.

If you’ve done that, but you’re still living in a hard season, struggling to make it through one day at a time, can I pray for you?

God, I pray for my friend and the daily burden she carries. Be merciful, God. It’s so hard when we’re trying to make it one day at a time. We pray for Your strength to endure. We pray for Your grace where she’s weak and Your joy to be her strength. Amen.

Are you in your weighted-vest era, too? Tell us below!