Spiritual Gainz

***SPOILER ALERT***

The challenge is over (technically tonight) I did not lose weight! In fact, I gained a few pounds. Some of you may be rubbing your chin thinking to yourself, “I thought she looked a bit chunkier…” Maybe I do. I don’t know, and really it doesn’t matter. The pounds I gained the past seven weeks, is nothing compared to the spiritual muscle I’ve gained during the same time period! I’ll take those gainz!

Let me explain… this challenge was completely different than the other two, and the one I completed by myself a couple years ago. I had WAY more going on throughout the course of the challenge and it was felt. With all the extras, in addition to following through on my commitments for the challenge, I’m sure there was a level of stress there that was but one variable adding to the weight gain. Another variable was my lack of exercise.

I started off great, the first two weeks. But when the virus hit, I was wiped out and had no energy to do any work outs for at least three weeks that followed. I then found myself with no desire or motivation to do anything, and my workouts were sporadic at best. My body NEEDS to move to lose weight. It just does. That is my body type and I know it.

Finally, I just ate MORE than my body needed during this time. Yes, it was Whole30 approved, but it was still more calories than I needed and hence the weight gain. I attribute the surplus of calories to not working out (obviously) and having higher fat foods combined with starchy foods. This is the science and physical part of it for me, but back to those spiritual gains.

I sensed from the beginning of the challenge it would be more spiritual in nature. And it was. Time and again I felt broken spiritually due to circumstances. The weight being lifted, its intensity and its duration no doubt broke me down. God, God in His goodness came along and replenished and refueled my spiritual “muscle”, repairing and ultimately building, making larger and stronger. I am certainly coming out of this challenge stronger spiritually, and have no doubt where my focus should lie during the upcoming months.

God is calling me to four very distinct projects, two of which are already well under way, I can’t escape them. I know for certain this is what is next. But He isn’t adding to my plate, He has been compelling me to remove several things from it, in order to make room for what He needs me to “see about” right now.

In the figure competitor world, athletes spend months building muscle on their bodies and adding shape to their frame. They then spend months leaning down, in order to reveal all their efforts by dramatically reducing body fat. I believe this is what God is about to do. He is about to perform a spiritual lean down (reduce spiritual fat of all those things keeping His good work from being seen through my life) and make known all that He has been building through me the past several months.

I am SO excited and a little nervous. Although I’ve visualized it many times, I have never made it on a figure stage; ultimately I get uncomfortable with the idea of all eyes being on me, seeing my “vulnerable” places. I know what is coming and how flipping GOOD it is going to be, and the thought of eyes being on me makes me feel a bit uncomfortable as well. But you know what? Folks may see my name or face, but ultimately they will see Christ, because everything that is about to be revealed is all being inspired by Him, for Him, and the sake of others! It is going to be good….