No Pain, No Gain

Track season has officially begun!  Needless to say, on day 1 I was dying.  Day 2 I was so sore I couldn't walk up and down our stairs, and day 3 I couldn't sit down without my quads burning.  But on day 4 I truly started to enjoy myself.  Then day 5 came around and My shins started bothering me.  Great.  The start of shin splints.  So this while week I can't run and I have to try and stay off of my feet in order to give my legs a rest.  Just when I was starting to like running.  Perfect.
But even though I'm only a week into the season, I've begun to change.  My life, I've noticed, has become more disciplined in my attempt to succeed.  I've taken myself off of sugar (which shocked even myself) and I have more energy during the day.   I haven't fallen asleep while doing my Omnibus reading and I've been in my room less.
I think this has been very good for me.  It's painful, but it's a good pain.  A necessary pain.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"

Philippians 4:13

The common phrase "no pain, no gain" is definitely telling the truth.  But as we go on living, we'll find that the most rewarding things are the ones that we have to work the hardest to achieve.
I was in the car with my dad last week and I was preparing to go to my second day of track practice.  I was crying.  I told him, "I wish I was born in shape, then practice wouldn't leave me so sore."  I think a lot of people wish they were born many things and that they didn't have to work toward their goals.  But where's the fun in that?  Where's the experience that we get from our mistakes?  Or better yet, would our hearts need to cry out to God to help us get through our hardships?
As my dad has always told me, "If the world was perfect, would we need a Savior?"  The answer is no.  If the world was perfect, there would be no need to save it.
Pain and difficulty are parts of us growing as people, and growing in Christ.  Relying upon Him for all things, keeps Him in our vision and encourages us to take His hand and He will help us to the finish line.
So as I go through track season, I'm going to continue to remind myself that "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."