Faith and Fitness: Building Strength Inside and Out

I was overweight during my university days until mid-2024. During those times, exercise and proper nutrition took a backseat.

After graduation, I made a conscious decision to take control of my health and fitness. No shortcuts, no crash diets, just consistency. I began exercising regularly, maintained a calorie deficit, and focused on eating balanced meals. Nothing fancy, just disciplined, daily effort.

A few months in, people started to notice. I’d get comments like, “You’ve lost weight, was that intentional?” It was, and it felt good to see the results of my efforts. What surprised me was how this journey revealed something deeper: a parallel to my spiritual walk.

Just like fitness, spiritual maturity doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, intentionality, and perseverance to keep going even when we don’t see immediate results. In both areas, consistency beats intensity. You don’t see change immediately, but if you keep sowing, you will eventually reap.

Discipline Over Motivation

There were days when I didn’t feel like training. Yet I still showed up at the gym and did my inclined walks on the treadmill, as I was committed to keep going. That’s when I realised that discipline matters more than motivation. Motivation is fleeting. Discipline is what keeps you going after the initial excitement fades.

Hebrews 12:11 reminds us that no discipline is pleasant at the time, but it produces righteousness for those trained by it. That word “trained” carries weight. It implies repetition, structure, and perseverance. Faith isn’t built only in moments of inspiration; it’s formed in the day-to-day, even when life feels difficult. It grows through the small, consistent choices we make to trust and obey.

We may attend worship services and Bible classes, but unless we put in the effort outside of those hours, such as reading the bible daily and practicing what we learn, we won’t grow spiritually. Just as a baby doesn’t grow into an adult overnight, spiritual maturity takes time, intention, and consistent habits. Even with the best formula milk, a baby still needs years to develop. In the same way, spiritual nourishment takes time to take root and bear fruit in our lives.

James 1:2–4 reminds us that trials produce endurance, and through that, we become mature and complete. In fitness, muscles are torn to rebuild stronger. Spiritually, trials work in the same way, shaping and refining our character. The discomfort isn’t meaningless; it’s part of the process.

No Shortcuts, but Steady Fruit

One Sunday, a brother at church casually told me, “You look different. Keep it up.” That simple comment came at just the right time, during a week when I hadn’t been as disciplined in going to the gym. That encouragement reminded me that progress is often more visible to others than to ourselves.

Galatians 6:7- 9 teaches that we reap what we sow, and if we keep sowing good, we’ll eventually reap in due season. Whether it’s in our fitness or our spiritual lives, results take time. There’s rarely instant gratification, but steady effort adds up.

We live in a fast-paced world, especially here in Singapore. The things that matter most, our character, faith, and endurance, are forged slowly. There are times when we give our all to work or relationships, yet things still don’t turn out the way we hope. Unlike career success or human relationships, which sometimes are beyond our control, faith is something we can choose and cultivate daily. It is within our grasp to keep trusting, obeying, and drawing near to Him. Growth often happens quietly, even when no one is watching.

Personally, I’ve learned to measure progress not by big leaps but by small steps. Even just one extra rep in the gym, or a 0.01% increase in Bible knowledge, is still growth. If I’m a little better than I was yesterday, that’s already a win.

The Journey Is Lifelong

The more I train, the more I realise that fitness is a lifelong journey. In strength training, there’s a concept called progressive overload. It means gradually increasing the weights so your body continues to adapt. It reminds me of our Christian walk. Growth doesn’t stop when we hit a milestone.

The deeper we go in our faith, the more we realise how much more there is to learn. Just like heavier weights await in the gym, God often allows us to face greater trials, not to break us, but to build us. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that no trial is beyond what we can bear, and that God always provides a way out. He stretches us just enough to grow us, never to destroy us.

I’ve come to see both fitness and faith as a marathon, not a sprint. It’s not about bursts of energy, but sustained endurance. As I grow older, I’ve started to view the ability to exercise as a privilege, not a chore. Not everyone has the health or mobility to move freely, and I no longer take that for granted.

Similarly, it’s a privilege to have access to God’s Word where one is able to read the Bible, understand it, and grow through it. Every day that we’re alive is a new chance to become more Christlike, not just in head knowledge, but in how we live.

That’s why I’ve found using the daily bible reading guide helpful as it adds structure and rhythm to my spiritual walk. Just like workout plans guide physical progress, daily reading keeps me spiritually anchored. Even when I don’t fully grasp everything at once, the Word sinks in over time.

Final Thoughts: Becoming More Like Christ

At the end of the day, both faith and fitness are shaped by daily choices. It’s not the big, dramatic moments that define us but the consistent, quiet ones.

Spiritual maturity isn’t about reaching perfection. It’s about growing steadily. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God, who began a good work in us, will complete it. He’s not done with us. Every struggle, every moment of faithfulness, He is using it all to shape us into who He wants us to be.

There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity or lasting health. With consistency and God's grace, there will always be fruit.