Embracing Resistance

According to medical research, “muscle size increases when a person continually challenges the muscles to deal with higher levels of resistance or weight. This process is known as muscle hypertrophy. Muscle hypertrophy occurs when the fibers of the muscles sustain damage or injury. The body repairs damaged fibers by fusing them, which increases the mass and size of the muscles” (Jayne Leonard, “How to Build Muscle with Exercise,” Medical News Today, January 8, 2020, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319151). Did you catch that? Muscles build when there is resistance. The process actually includes tearing of muscle fibers. That sounds painful! But it’s necessary for the big picture: gaining muscle strength and growth. As Christians, we desire to be like Christ, to be the person he wants us to be, to be a good Christian; but this only comes with testing—with tearing, increased load, and resistance in our everyday life.