Pushing Me Past My Quit

Okay, so this is the second post about quitting. Hopefully it will be the last for a while. So, what does the title refer to. Let me tell you. I have been going to the gym for about 2 1/2 years. Now I know that looking at me that is hard to believe, but it is true. One of my goals is to keep in shape. As a full time Pastor, I do not find myself doing the kind of physical work which would naturally keep my in good physical condition. This should be fairly obvious, if you have ever noticed how many preachers were out of shape! I mean, personally I think it is a shame that so many preachers are just plain fat! I am not trying to be disrespectful to my fellow preacher brethren, but c'mon, it just doesn't make sense that so many preachers should be fat!! I'll probably be in trouble for saying this, but it is true.

Now I will get back to the point of the post. During my regular workout ,a few weeks ago, I met a personal trainer named Will. He was one of those personal trainers that "looked" like he knew what he was talking about. I mean, I have seen some at my gym that didn't look like they had any business teaching other people how to get in shape! Nuff said? Anyway, Will and I started talking one day and he asked me what my goals were. I told him that I just wanted to stay in shape. I said that I used to want to build muscle mass, but had long since given up being successful. I blamed it on my high metabolism and skinny frame. Will said he could help if I was interested. I figured I was in pretty good shape, and thought it would not be so bad.

The following Thursday morning at 8 a.m. I arrived at the gym. I am not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got, let me tell you. I won't bore you with the details of the workout, but I will tell you the important part. About 20 minutes into the workout I hit my wall. I felt that I had no physical strength left. However, Will was right there informing me that I had two more sets of the given exercise to do. I started shaking my head, and saying I couldn't do it. He said, "Yes you can, come on."

I said, "I don't feel like I can."

He said, "Yep, now get ready."

I won't tell you it was easy, but I found out something that day. I could do more than I thought and felt that I could.

Since that first workout with Will I have had two more sessions. Each one was equally painful, and equally as difficult. When someone asked my why I paid someone to do that to me I wasn't really sure what to answer. Then it hit me. I looked at them and said, "He pushes me past my 'quit'". After I said it, I knew it was right. That is what I had needed. Working out my myself I would often go till I could not go anymore. It is not unusual for me to push myself until it doesn't feel like I have anything left. That is where I stop. That, however, is where Will begins.

Did you know that it is the same thing in the Christian life. Sometimes we just need someone to push us past our "quit". We need someone to push us to do the things we don't think we have strength to do. Until you push yourself physically you will not get stronger. Many Christians stopped growing in strength because they would not push themselves, and neither will they allow themselves to be pushed.

Are you at a breaking point? Do you feel that when it comes to service for Christ, there is nothing more you have to give. You can't do one more thing? Why not find a Christian who is stronger than you, and give them permission to push you past your quit. It might be your Mom or Dad. It might be your Preacher, or maybe your Sunday school Teacher. Either way, you need someone who has paid the price and done the work, so that they can push you when you feel like quitting. I wonder how many Christians quit at the same point each time. They never push themselves.

If you want to grow in the Lord, and develop some spiritual muscle, then heed this advice. Let someone push you past your "quit". It will hurt, and it may be difficult for a while. I can tell you this for sure. When you finish, you will have a sense of accomplishment, that you did something you have never done before.