I’m in my weighted-vest era. Once a day, I strap on a 20 lb. contraption that looks more like a tactical bullet-proof vest than fad exercise equipment for middle-age women waging war with perimenopause. In my urban neighborhood, it’s not uncommon for us to guess “gunshots or fireworks,” so as I walk, I keep waiting for someone to ask if I missed my ride to a SWAT team raid.
My weighted vest adventure began months ago, as I listened to my girlfriends extol the osteoporosis-fighting benefits of wearing this contraption while doing the dishes, laundry, or watching TV. Vest-wearing friends reported weight loss, and others raved about a reduction in aches and pains because of stronger muscles. All of that appealed to me!
I was skeptical, but I purchased a vest anyway. Wrestling the contraption over my shoulders worked up decent pre-workout sweat. Wearing the extra weight felt like reliving the years when my kids were toddlers, and they would cling to my body all the time. Next, I set out for a walk. I listened to online influencers who warned to start slow and wear the vest for fifteen minutes a day until my body adapted to the new weight.
Six weeks later, I’m a weighted vest evangelist. It’s surprising how my body has adapted to the extra weight. I often forget that I’m wearing the vest during my daily three- to four-mile walks. Even though I’ve been lifting weights since my teens, I enjoy feeling this newfound strength.
Life is like that sometimes. New strength can emerge during our challenging seasons.
Have you ever encountered a new situation that weighed heavily on your life, and at first, it felt like the weight would overwhelm you? Situations that began with sleepless nights, endless tears, and even hopeless moments. Maybe it was your cancer diagnosis, caregiving for ailing loved ones, or a family crisis you didn’t see coming. At first, you feel like you’re trapped in a lead vest so heavy you can barely rise from your bed. You want God to fix it. Now.
However, instead of an instant miracle, God takes His time to give you a different but deeper miracle.
“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 NLT
Over time, as we invite God into our circumstances through prayer and meditation on His presence and promises, we discover a daily strength that can only come from Him.
One day at a time, we realize we’re making it. To our surprise, we can even smile sometimes. We see how the combination of worship, studying God’s Word, and prayer opens up heaven-to-earth conduits of connection, allowing God’s power and presence to be sensed and absorbed in our hearts and minds. Yes, weight is still there, but we have God’s wisdom to help us carry it.
How many of us can look back to see how God used stress to make us stronger? We can’t explain it, but we celebrate it!
Do you need to ask God to help you with the extra weight? Let’s do this together:
First, obsessing and overthinking are heavy emotional weights that turn our hard situations into suffering. A popular recovery slogan is, “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”
Therefore, God invites us to give Him any unhealthy or harmful thoughts or obsessions that create fear, anxiety, or disappointment within us.
“Now I will take the load from your shoulders;
I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.”
Psalm 81:6 NLT
In this context, God was speaking to the oppressive mental and emotional suffering the Israelites faced in circumstances where they had no control. We can relate, right? God wants to lift all of that from our shoulders. Yes, please!
Second, and this is one to pay attention to: You aren’t bothering God with your problems. Ever. God isn’t bothered when you ask Him for help. He wants you to!
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Today, have you sensed God whispering to you about stress weight that’s been too heavy for you? What are you overthinking or obsessing about right now? Give it to Him.
If you’ve done that, but you’re still living in a hard season, struggling to make it through one day at a time, can I pray for you?
God, I pray for my friend and the daily burden she carries. Be merciful, God. It’s so hard when we’re trying to make it one day at a time. We pray for Your strength to endure. We pray for Your grace where she’s weak and Your joy to be her strength. Amen.
Are you in your weighted-vest era, too? Tell us below!
Barb loves writing about helping women win their battle with stress and overwhelm in her Bible study, Stronger Than Stress: Developing 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Stress and Overwhelm.
I cannot seem to hear this message enough. Obsess, worry, get anxious and yet I know God is there for me and will help me through the trials I face. And yet, those worries creep up on me before I realize it. It feels like a never ending cycle. But, this is a new day.
Thank you so much for this encouragement Barb! Sometimes the struggles of this life seem too much, but with God I can cast my cares on Him. And there may not be the answers I want in this life, but I am looking forward to the perfect answers when I see Jesus in heaven. ❤️
Yes, I am weighed down by another season of depression and anxiety plus a debilitating back condition. I am 78 and so very tired. I look to the Lord as He is faithful.
Precious Donna, thank you for sharing your comment today. If we were with you, our entire team would take turns giving you a big hug and telling you how much you mean to us and to God. Can I pray for you?
God, we pray for our sister, Donna. We give thanks for her faith and her trust in You. God, we pray for Donna’s heart and mind as she’s struggles with depression and anxiety. God, please be merciful to her. We pray for healing and relief over her physical condition and supportive people to help her. Amen.
Thank you Barb for this! I needed it xo
Wonderful! Stephanie, thank you for joining us for today’s devotion and I’m glad it blessed you!
Thank you, Barb for your encouragement… And for your insights around weighted vests. I hadn’t considered one, but it sounds like a great idea… Your motivation is inspiring.
Sending you summer joy,
Lisa Wilt
Thank you, Lisa! Come on over to our weighted vest land – it’s a fun adventure! Thanks for joining today’s conversation.
Thank you thank you dear lady! This is exactly what I needed to read today. I am constantly in a state of overwhelm it seems. I worry about being able to take care of my husband, who is 66 and has rheumatoid arthritis and still trying to be a healthy 49 year old, my sickly brother (brother is a 66 yr old bachelor – no kids or even an ex to help him so it falls on me ). I worry about my middle son and his family who are all struggling financially, about the eldest son who uses cocaine and about my youngest son who is in prison and his two kids (19 and 23) who struggle. Once in a while I let myself worry about my health and I’m exhausted too much.
So I ordered your book through my Kindle and looking forward to finding a way or ways to permanently unload these burdens.
Leann Stites
Leann, you have a lot of “weight” on your life and we are so glad that you’re a part of our (in)courage community so we can encourage you. I’m so glad you’ve ordered Stronger Than Stress – there are so many practical tools to help you live with less and stress and experience God’s peace.
Thank you so much Barb! This is exactly what I needed to read today.
Wonderful! Dale, I’m so glad God knew exactly what you needed to hear today!
I’m wearing the stress of loved ones dealing with SUD & financial issues. Almost 3 yrs later & I’m grieving the Homegoing of my husband & Mom. I’m lonely in the midst of knowing many people. Disability at 55yo where walking is the issue leaves me unable to live life fully which, is another form of grief. Desperate to have a better life yet, feeling defeated. I praise God for all He does. I know things could be SO much worse. Encouragement in God’s word needs to be sought after more & His promises, a precious reminder of His love & mercy.
This.. all of this. Spoke to me today, As I have been most definitely walking through a difficult time. A time I feel guilt because I am sad when I should be happy. I just got married few moths ago, and also found I am 8 weeks pregnant ( Which is a miracle). In his time of joy, I have had major family problems, in college and am unsure of the direction I am to go, and a job I feel as if I have no grace for. Maybe what I feel is due to my hormones. But it is indeed heavy. I needed this more than you know today and I thank you for sharing and reminding me, the Lord has got this, in Him is victory.
Blessings to you all.
I think my heart needed to hear this. So thank you.
Also, I need to work on letting go of the not enough mentality that I have felt stuck in lately. I feel like I should be doing more of this or of that. I need to remember His grace and move forward.