Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
10 27 2025
Spiritually Fit: Training for the Storms of Life
How does one get spiritually fit? How do we train our spiritual muscles and embrace the life God means for us to live — to stand firm when life is trying to knock us down?
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” — Ephesians 6:10
When I am down, disappointed, anxious, or fearful, I have a tendency to turn inward — to look down at my own feet as I walk a lonely path of uncertainty into what feels like chaos or even disaster. But when I do that, I stop being alert to the good around me. I lose sight of the blessings and the lessons that can only be found on the path I’m on.
Think of a physical fitness trainer. When you’ve lost strength in part of your body, they apply resistance and pressure to help you rebuild it. They literally push you beyond your comfort zone — and we willingly submit to it because we want to be whole again. We even seek it out. We fill the prescription the doctor gave us, embrace the pain, and commit to the discipline required to heal.
But what about when it’s not a physical injury — when it’s a life hiccup? A mistake, a setback, a betrayal, a failure, or a season of regret? What remedy do we reach for when it’s our faith that feels out of shape? Do we have a prescription for that kind of weakness — and will we fill it, faithfully and consistently, to regain our strength emotionally, relationally, and spiritually?
Sometimes life hits so hard that it knocks the breath right out of us.
The grief, loss, or change can send us through what’s known as the five stages of grief —
which, truthfully, apply to much more than just death:
- Denial: “This must be a mistake.” A temporary defense to help us survive the shock.
- Anger: “Why me? It’s not fair.” Emotions rise as reality sets in.
- Bargaining: “Lord, if You just fix this, I’ll…” A desire to rewrite what feels unbearable.
- Depression: “What’s the point?” The weariness of heart and soul that whispers despair.
- Acceptance: “It is what it is.” A step toward peace and forward movement.
But there’s another step — one that lifts us above the model: Finding Meaning.
When we choose to look for God in the pain instead of just asking Him to remove it, we begin to see His fingerprints in the very places we thought He had abandoned us.
Romans 8:28 reminds us:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
It doesn’t say all things are good — but that God can work good out of all things. Even the mess-ups, the heartbreaks, the disappointments, and the detours.
James 1:2–4 challenges us:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
That’s spiritual fitness training.
God applies resistance to grow our strength. He allows pressure to build endurance. And just like a personal trainer, He knows exactly how much weight we can bear — and how to spot us when we struggle.
The question is: when life applies resistance, will we push back in faith — or pull away in fear?
If you’ve fallen, stumbled, or taken a spiritual detour, take heart. God hasn’t benched you; He’s rebuilding you. Every breath, every prayer, every small act of obedience is a rep in your spiritual workout.
So, how do you get spiritually fit again?
- Recommit to training: Spend time daily in God’s Word — it’s your nutrition (Hebrews 4:12).
- Pray honestly: Don’t fake strength; talk to God about your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- Surround yourself with encouragers: Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).
- Worship in the waiting: Praise invites His presence into your process (Psalm 22:3).
You don’t have to be perfect to be fit — you just have to be in training.
And when life hits again (because it will), you’ll find that through the pain, resistance, and perseverance, your spirit has grown stronger, steadier, and more rooted in the One who holds you steady.
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:8
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Fearlessly Courageous Testimonies
We’d love to hear how the Fearlessly Courageous ministry has touched your life or the life of someone close to you. Please take a moment to share your story with us at Dennis@fearlesslycourageous.com …whether it’s a moment of clarity, comfort, or unexpected blessing you’ve experienced through this ministry. Your testimony could inspire others and help me understand the impact we’re making in our Courageous community.
