Getting Ripped On The Inside

In the last few weeks, I have been on a mission to getting myself back in shape and to a healthy weight. It has been a very difficult process for me as I have to get up early in the morning to work out while most people are still sleeping.

My workout partner aka coach aka trainer is also my husband and no one pushes me like he does. Usually after each work out I am worn out, have no energy or desire to talk and many parts of my body sing choruses of pain.

I was having a conversation with a work friend of mine who is also on the same journey. I shared with her that I did 6o burpies that morning and felt great because I was able to complete my sets without giving up, I also shared with her all the different weight lifting exercises that I have been doing and how sore I was.

During our conversation, I told her that I was getting fit on the inside. I said, I might not look fit on the outside but my insides are getting ripped. We both laughed hysterically at my statement and she looked at me and said, you know, “That is how God transforms us.”

When we focus so much on the end goal or the place of perfection, we sometimes forget the process, which is the work that God is doing in us RIGHT NOW. The idea that our walk with God is not a final destination, but a journey holds true.

Living a disciplined life, and walking our faith-talk with integrity is not an easy thing to do. But, God is our coach; he coaches us on the inside. While people might judge how we look on the outside, we must remember that we are getting ripped internally. You might be judged for getting divorced, failing a class, losing a business, putting on weight, getting pregnant out of wedlock, losing your home, being a single parent, etc. But, you know that this journey is not about anyone, it is about you and God. You’re not running anyone’s race, so focus on you!

We all have things in our lives that we want to change, we might want our marriages to be different, it might be our parenting, or even our attitudes. We must not lose faith or hope. We must keep going back to the SOURCE, our life coach. Draw strength from God, knowing that he is the one that transforms.

Don’t allow what people say make you lose hope; every journey starts with a single step. Whatever you want to change, whether it is losing weight, starting a business venture, returning to school, strengthening your marriage, walking away from unhealthy people and relationships, or becoming a more present parent. Know that it is a journey.

On some days I do not feel like getting up to workout. Some workout days I feel very accomplished and other days, I feel frustrated at how unfit I am. All days are not great and fun days. But I am learning to enjoy and embrace the journey.

There will be days filled with disappointments when I step on the scale and my weight in pounds is not affirming. For you it might be someone saying no, receiving a letter of disappointment, failing an entrance exam, not being able to raise capital as quickly as possible, or even the knowledge and awareness that your relationship isn’t what you hoped and planned it to be.

I encourage you to hang in, hang on. Rome was not built in a day. Keep at it, do not give up, keep pursuing, keep praying, keep hope and faith alive and PUSH yourself. People might not see it now, they might judge your current outward state, but you know that you are getting ripped on the inside!

Your affirmation is that you are getting stronger and stronger with each challenge, with each no, with each disappointment.

I know that in the next 6 months, if I do not give up and I keep working out and eating right, my inner ripped self will show itself on the outside, the scales will reflect my cumulative hard work, and I might not have reached my goal yet, but will be able to confidently declare “I’m not where I need to be, but I am no longer where I used to be!”

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).