When participating in a weekly exercise class, I invited a friend to join me. I had been getting stronger and wanted her to enjoy the same success. Her response mystified me. She said, “I’ll have to get stronger before I can do something like that.”

She didn’t recognize how backward her thinking about exercise was. In her mind, I suppose, a certain level of fitness had to be achieved before working out in a group setting.

The problem was that she would never get to that level of fitness because she didn’t have the knowledge, equipment, or motivation to work out by herself. The group exercise class provided all of those things. All she had to do was commit to showing up. The rest would be provided.

She had to take the first step, not in spite of her weak state, but because of it.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you.” (Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬, ‭CSB‬‬)

The same is true of faith. Isaiah is calling a beaten down, weak people to “arise and shine”. They don’t want to. In fact, they don’t think they can. But only by getting up and doing good things will they experience God’s glory.

You don’t have to work at getting more faith before you can step out in obedience. That’s backward thinking. Faith comes after obedience in the same way that strength comes after exercise.

Years ago, God told me to start tithing, or giving ten percent of what I earned back to Him. If I had waited until I was sure that I could afford that, it would never have happened. But when I did it anyway, worried the whole time about my bills, I learned that God did indeed provide everything I needed and more. My faith grew. I got stronger.

Now I must keep stretching. Continuing to step into uncomfortable places in obedient faith. Rising and shining with each new day!

Dear God, thank you for your promises and for proving how trustworthy you are to fulfill them. I trust you to provide everything I need to do your will after I get started doing it! Show me what you have in mind today.