God has made some really amazing products. Take muscles, for example. When you push them to the limit of what they can withstand, they actually get stronger. Little fibers inside them will stretch and break, and it will be painful, but with proper hydration and rest, those tears will heal and produce thicker, stronger muscle. They will be able to withstand more next time.

If I tried this with cloth or rope or just about any man-made product, I would discover it to be weaker the next time, not stronger. Any little breakages would not heal. Damage would simply accumulate until the item failed entirely.

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭CSB‬‬)

Fortunately, my faith is not a man-made product. It is divine, created in me by God and strengthened, like my muscles, by usage and testing.

How do I exercise my faith? By doing something that requires its use. To strengthen my core muscles, I could to do a bunch of sit-ups. To strengthen my faith muscles, I could tell someone I know about my relationship with Jesus or donate time and money to someone in need.

God will also send me things to test my faith if I have been lazy about using it myself. He doesn’t want me to get spiritually weak and flabby.

It may be difficult, even painful, but with proper rest and spiritual nourishment, my faith will become stronger and ready to accomplish more next time.

Dear God,

Thank you for my amazing ability to heal and grow stronger when I use my muscles — my physical ones and my spiritual ones. Forgive me for my laziness. Teach me what I should do to exercise my faith today.