" The goal is to be resilient in daily rhythms, because that is the key to building a foundation that stands not only the test of time but the temptations of life."
When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at fourteen, one of the steps in my rigorous recovery routine was physical exercise. I rolled my eyes at my doctor and reminded him that I was a ballet dancer and had been physically active since I was four. But what I didn’ t want to admit was that fibromyalgia had drastically affected my physical state. My doctor explained that I needed more physical exercise, specifically strength training.
So on the days that I was not in the dance studio, I worked out with a personal trainer, Bridget. Her workouts were tough and intense, but her heart was soft and kind. She tailored my workout regimen to be in line with my doctor’ s orders to build more muscular endurance and strength. Holding a perfect ballet penche or a releve en pointe is legit but so is squatting with two twenty-pound dumbbells racked on your shoulders.
Research has concluded that physical activity is one of the best ways to manage fibromyalgia symptoms. What changed the game for me in my chronic-illness journey was building a real vision for the long term. Adding weightlifting and strength training to what I was already doing wasn’ t about toughening up in the temporary. In order to learn how to live with fibromyalgia for the foreseeable future, I needed something more than a quick fix to get me through. I needed true, physical resilience, a strengthening that would last.
It took a good four weeks to settle into my new, rigorous workout routine. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, I moved my body in a leotard and ballet shoes. And on Tuesdays and Fridays, I moved my body in leggings and training sneakers. There were days when I wanted to throw in the towel. There were days when I wanted to succumb to the warmth of my bed and shoot a text to my trainer telling her I wasn’ t going to come that day. But God gave me the supernatural foresight and vision to push through the temporary struggle and, after four weeks, returning to the gym and the studio became not only more of a habit but also more of a joy.
" The goal is to be resilient in daily rhythms, because that is the key to building a foundation that stands not only the test of time but the temptations of life."
It’ s the same for you and me when it comes to our relationship with God, especially in the dry seasons. The goal isn’ t merely to be tough in the temporary. The goal is to be resilient in daily rhythms, because that is the key to building a foundation that stands not only the test of time but the temptations of life. Seasons of dryness and apathy in our faith are unavoidable, but that doesn’ t mean we cannot overcome them. We must recognize our neediness as necessary and develop resilience.
Secular culture and social media do a poor job at teaching resilience and perseverance. Flashy, six-second Instagram reels train our
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