“Progressive overload” builds physical strength … and spiritual maturity!

In the realm of fitness, the principle of “progressive overload” stands as a cornerstone for developing strength and endurance. This principle asserts that to grow stronger, you must gradually increase the stress placed on your muscles during training. Whether it’s adding more weight, increasing repetitions, or extending workout duration, the aim is to push beyond current limits, causing the body to adapt and grow. Without progressive overload, hypertrophy or strengthening of the muscles would plateau, never reaching their full potential.

Now, let’s translate this principle to our spiritual lives. Just as our muscles need progressive overload to grow stronger, our faith and spiritual maturing require challenges and trials to develop resilience and depth. This brings us to a commonly quoted myth: “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” While well-meaning, this phrase isn’t accurate. Scripture reveals that God often allows situations that stretch us beyond our capabilities, pushing us to rely not on our own strength but on His.

In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, the Apostle Paul shares his own experience: “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” Paul’s trials were more than he could handle on his own, yet they were instrumental in teaching him to depend entirely on God.

James 1:2-4 further illustrates this concept: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” Here, James encourages us to view trials as spiritual progressive overload, essential for cultivating perseverance and maturity.

Consider the example of David facing Goliath. On his own, David was no match for the giant. However, his previous experiences of overcoming lions and bears while shepherding sheep prepared him for this monumental challenge (1 Samuel 17:34-37). Each trial strengthened his faith and reliance on God, culminating in his victory over Goliath with God’s help.

This principle of progressive overload in our Christian lives ensures that our spiritual formation doesn’t plateau or become stunted. God allows challenges not to crush us, but to refine us, pushing us to lean on Him and grow stronger. While we may sometimes feel overwhelmed, we can be encouraged: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation,” Romans 5:3-4 and “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17.

In fitness and faith alike, progressive overload is essential. Embrace the challenges, knowing that with God’s help, they are shaping you into a stronger, more resilient disciple of Jesus. Just as muscles grow through resistance, our faith deepens through trials, each one an opportunity to rely more fully on the One who strengthens us.

Scotty