He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.-Psalm 18:34, NIV
Pastoring is a very non-concrete profession. It is hard sometimes to see progress.
One thing I do for my own self-care is pursue my hobby as an amateur powerlifter. This is one hobby where you see your progress (and your need for more progress, sometimes).
Yesterday, I succeeded in lifting 605lbs (274kg) in training while wearing a 2 ply piece of equipment.
This is the most weight I have ever lifted. That includes back to the time when I was squatting heavy.
If someone had told me in high school (now over 20 years ago) that I would one day bench over 600 lbs, I would not have believed them.
I can distinctly remember thinking 285lbs was an awesome weight to achieve on the bench as a high schooler. In fact, I was proud to make it to bench pressing 315 lbs before I graduated. The idea of reaching 605 lbs was not even on my radar back then.
There is a spiritual lesson here.
God may have a future for you that exceeds your wildest dreams. You may currently feel too “weak” to achieve such greatness. Yet that does not invalidate the great future God has for you.
I am not stopping at 605lbs but will continue to train with my expert trainer to climb to greater heights.
