Don't Be a Cop Out!

Yesterday was leg day. I stood in the gym mirror selectively focused on the perfect form as I squatted repetitively with heavy weight on my shoulders. My legs were trembling and achy, the pain was almost intolerable.

In my previous attempts at going to the gym, I could barely make it through a “set.” Fixated on the pain, I’d cop out early. But this time was different. I wasn’t concentrated on the aches shooting through my legs. Instead, my mind was set on the vision God gave me for my health as it relates to my purpose. There was no room in my mind for the pain at hand. I could clearly picture more energy to play with my babies, better work ethic, discipline in all I do and more. Overflowing with vision, there was no room to marinate and toll over short lived pain.

Trials in life are much more painful when we fixate on the pain and not the purpose. When we wrestle through difficult circumstances, we cannot only focus on the difficulty of that circumstance. We have to set our minds on the unique vision Christ gives to each one of us who asks. Obsessing and engrossing ourselves with the discomforts we feel in this life, serves only as a distraction for the true purpose of pain. Labor on purpose, don’t be distracted by the pain. Set your heart on God’s vision for your life and recognize pain as a push towards life more abundant. It will hurt less.

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild, but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness.”