No Pain, No Gain

By Kathy Robichaux

Happy New Year, friends. I am in let down that we have entered 2020 and are not flying our veichles yet. I had such space like expectations of 2020 back when I was growing up. I must say that even though flying cars is not a thing, I love the fact that Chad and I were able to purchase our first vehicle with a backup camera in 2019. #Blessed (lol)

Many of you may have started 2020 off with a new year’s resolution. Maybe it was to attend Church more often, save money, join a gym, or you want to start offering kind gestures daily to put a smile on someone’s face. Changing habits and putting new ones in place will help you to accomplish whatever it is that you have chosen as your new year’s resolution.

I am not one to make resolutions, at least not on day one of every new year. I am always pursuing new goals. Last summer, I started a fitness program that would help me with strength training, and the year before that, I started indoor cycling. I love that I can do it On Demand in the comfort of my own home with both of those programs. As I am getting older, I realize that my muscle tone is not sticking around as easy. If God is willing to grant me a long and prosperous life, I’d love to do as much as I can for as long as I can. Being strong and having a active, healthy lifestyle is essential to me. However, that has not come without discomfort. You know the saying “no pain, no gain”? Well, that might be true when it comes to building muscle or walking away from a warm slice of chocolate cake… 
The truth is, you will need to make new habits that will most likely cause discomfort and pain, but the outcome produces gain through victory if you do no give up.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
–James 1:12 (NIV)

As I have become more seasoned in my faith, that saying no pain, no gain, has a whole other meaning to me. I have learned that through my suffering, I have gained far more than if I had never suffered. Ok, I am not a fan of suffering. Who is? What I am a fan of is the faith I have gained in Jesus Christ, the wisdom and strength (in many areas) I have attained, the relationships I have in my life, my thriving marriage of almost 25 years and a few ugly stories of my life to share with others who are searching for hope. If it weren’t for my suffering, I wouldn’t have all of that. I pray that my three adult children would also find refuge in Jesus because of how it was modeled to them. They saw (Mommy and Daddy) two very hurt and broken people, and now they see the same two hurt and broken people living the life God called them to live, where hope and true victory is found. That is my legacy I wish to leave for them.

My Pain is Gain,
Amen

Read more from Kathy at KathyRobichaux.com