Waiting With Purpose: Strengthening Faith, Body, and Mind
Introduction: Strengthening Your Faith Through Fitness
There have been moments in my life when I’ve felt utterly lost. The kind of lost where questions like, Why am I here? What’s my purpose? echo in the silence. It’s unsettling to feel adrift, to wonder when—or if—you’ll find solid ground again. But during these times, I’ve learned that waiting doesn’t have to mean standing still. Waiting can be a time of preparation, growth, and purpose.
At Hard Way Fitness, I’ve come to understand that when life feels uncertain, the best thing you can do is focus on strengthening your faith, body, and mind. This is my personal story about finding peace in the waiting, and how I’ve learned to embrace the process of becoming stronger while trusting in God’s plan for me.
Feeling Lost: Searching for Purpose and Peace
Life has a way of throwing curveballs. Sometimes, they’re so unexpected and so heavy that they knock the air out of you. I’ve had moments where everything I thought I knew about myself, my goals, and my direction seemed to evaporate.
In these times, I found myself asking God, What now? What am I supposed to do? The silence that often followed felt unbearable. But through prayer, reflection, and sheer determination, I began to see waiting not as a punishment, but as an opportunity.
The Shift: Making the Waiting Period Productive
When you’re lost, it’s tempting to stand still and hope for clarity. But I realized that waiting well requires action—action rooted in faith and discipline. I couldn’t force answers or speed up God’s timing, but I could focus on the things I could control: my faith, my physical health, and my mindset.
Strengthening My Faith in the Unknown
The Bible reminds us in Psalm 27:14:
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
This verse became a cornerstone for me. It reminded me that waiting isn’t passive—it’s an act of trust.
Prayer as a Foundation: I started every day with prayer, not for answers, but for strength and patience.
Scripture for Guidance: Verses like Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”) became my mantra during challenging workouts and tough days.
Surrendering Control: This was the hardest part—letting go of my desire to control the outcome and trusting God’s plan.
Building Physical Strength as a Metaphor for Growth
One thing I could control was how I treated my body. Fitness became my therapy, my outlet, and my way of pushing forward when everything else felt stuck.
Discipline Over Motivation: There were days I didn’t feel like training, but I showed up anyway. Discipline became my way of honoring the process.
Progress, Not Perfection: Just as I didn’t expect instant clarity in life, I didn’t expect instant results in the gym. I focused on small, consistent wins.
A Deeper Purpose: Every rep, every drop of sweat, became a prayer—a way of thanking God for the body He gave me and the strength to keep going.
Strengthening My Mind: Finding Resilience in Adversity
Being lost can take a toll on your mental health, but I refused to let it break me.
Mindfulness in the Moment: I practiced being present, whether during workouts or quiet moments of reflection.
Gratitude Practice: Focusing on what I had, rather than what I lacked, helped me shift my perspective.
Community and Connection: I leaned on trusted friends and faith-based communities to stay grounded and encouraged.
Waiting Well: The Transformation That Comes With Time
As I poured myself into strengthening my faith, body, and mind, something unexpected happened—I began to find peace.
The questions didn’t disappear, and the path didn’t become instantly clear, but I started to feel stronger, more capable, and more grounded. I realized that the waiting period wasn’t wasted—it was shaping me for what was to come.
Proposed Approach: A Framework for Growth During Uncertainty
Start With Faith:
Commit to daily prayer and scripture reading. Trust that God is working, even when you can’t see it.
Train Your Body:
Set fitness goals, no matter how small, and work toward them with discipline and patience.
Develop Your Mind:
Practice gratitude, journal your thoughts, and engage in activities that challenge your mental strength.
Stay Open to Community:
Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who inspire and encourage you. Share your struggles and triumphs.
Trust the Process:
Know that growth takes time and that every small step forward is part of a bigger plan.
Call to Action
If you’re feeling lost, know that you’re not alone. Waiting is hard, but it’s also an opportunity to prepare for what’s next. By focusing on your faith, body, and mind, you can find strength and purpose even in the uncertainty.
Reminder of Our Values
We are accountable to both ourselves and our community for everything that we say and do or fail to do.
We do the work that is required of us silent for the most part, without social media hubbub or fanfare.
We focus on having solid fundamental capabilities, continuous learning, development, and growth—we don’t accept the status quo.
Lessons learned, new information, and mistakes are shared for all of us to develop and grow.
Better people make great communities; we screen all members to ensure you are ready for this culture.
We are all leaders in our own way; we don’t avoid responsibility to ourselves and others.