It’s early in the morning and I’m at one of the last places I ever thought I’d be—a gym. My friend is the owner and she’s coaxed me into showing up.
I’ve done squats and presses, box step-ups, and a series of other exercises whose names I can’t yet remember. I’m awkward and sweaty, already anticipating how sore I’ll be tomorrow.
There is one other woman in my class who has been coming for years. I tell her good job and she says to me, “You’re stronger than you think you are.” At those words, I feel my spine straighten, my shoulders go back, my head raise.
I’m in a challenging season and that simple phrase does something to my soul too. I stand taller on the inside. I start feeling a bit more hope. I think that maybe I can do this after all. They are words we all need to hear sometimes, so let me speak them into this space too…
You’re stronger than you think you are.
Oh, it likely doesn’t feel that way right now. It’s more likely that you feel exhausted and like you’ll never get it right. You may feel weak and as if you’re at your limit. You might be looking around and thinking everyone else is doing better. And that’s okay. I’m learning all of those are signs of progress. They are not indicators of failure but proof that you’re transforming bit by bit.
When we’re challenging ourselves, it’s never going to feel easy or comfortable. We’re not going to think, “Oh, yeah, I’ve totally got this.” We’re going to feel uncertain and hurt in places we didn’t know we could. We’re going to consider hiding in the bathroom or walking out the door. We’re going to fixate on how far we still have to go instead of all we’ve gained since we began.
This place of challenge is the growth zone. It’s the bridge between what we can do today and what we’re capable of tomorrow. If we avoid it so we never feel like we’re not enough, then we’re missing out on all we can become. Feeling weak isn’t failure; it’s the precursor to embracing our God-given power.
You’re stronger than you think you are.
MORE FOR YOU
Do you ever wonder if you’re significant in the eyes of God? If your life feels ordinary, the latest podcast episode of More than Small Talk offers encouragement especially for you.
In this one-minute video I share one thing to remember when you don’t know the right answer.
Need a reminder of Truth that you can take with you on the go? I created these twelve fear-fighting, faith-building Scripture cards to go alongside my ebook Fear, I’m Over You: A 21-Day Challenge to Live with Less Worry and More Courage. They’re free! Enter your email here and I’ll send them your way.
