The next time you’re tempted to feel this way, remember: God “fearfully and wonderfully” made you one-of-a-kind (Psalm 139:14).
Early on in my fitness journey, I decided to run a half marathon. At that time in my life, I had a lot of friends who loved to run, and even though I hated it, I believed that I could fall in love with running if I just tried hard enough.
“A half marathon this year, a marathon next year, and then who knows? Maybe an ultra marathon after that!” I told myself and dutifully followed my training plan the months leading up to the race. The day finally came, and while the weather was great, and the route along Lake Michigan was scenic and flat, that event turned out to be one of the most painful and unenjoyable fitness experiences of my life. I completed the race, but photos from that day document how miserable I felt as I crossed the finish line.
“I’m never doing that again,” I moaned to my husband, as I limped back to the car.
That race taught me an important lesson: my health and fitness journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Since that day, I’ve enjoyed exercise via CrossFit, cycling, mobility training, music-based classes, bungee fitness (look it up!), and more. My path has been unique, because I’m unique, just as God intended.
Paul highlights this concept in 1 Corinthians 12 as he describes how the Holy Spirit gives us distinct gifts. He goes on to liken the individuals of the church in Corinth to different parts of the body, each with it’s own purpose. But our special attributes extend beyond our contributions to our faith community. As God “knits” us together (Psalm 139:13), he instills talents, desires, and preferences, ensuring our singularity.
This results in an incomparable life experience, that includes our overall health. Meaning, your ideal nutrition and fitness habits may be different from others, and it may take time to discover them. If that sounds like a no brainer, consider how many times you’ve felt like a failure when you’ve attempted to adopt a new exercise routine or diet, unsuccessfully.
The next time you’re tempted to feel this way, remember: God “fearfully and wonderfully” made you one-of-a-kind (Psalm 139:14). Instead of wondering why you can’t emulate the wellbeing practices of others, use your individuality to discover how to thrive and honor God with your bodily temple, in your own way.
Rachel Keele is director of Andrews University Wellness.
