Do you want to get in shape? Embrace the struggle.

Okay, you didn’t stumble upon a fitness section in Unboxing Catholicism. 🤣

This article is not about a new workout regimen. 

I want to share with you some things I’ve realized as I was doing my prayer this evening. 

This week, I’ve encountered people with a lot of struggles. 

You may be one of them.

One new friend whom I have never met yet was diagnosed with clinical depression. 

One friend lost an uncle who was abandoned by his children.

And very recently a close friend has confided in me how he’s been stuck and having a hard time with his business.

Many times, when my friends tell me about their problems, I wish had all the right words to say to make them feel better.

But more often, all I can offer them are my prayers and my presence.

Struggle in Little Things

When I talk to Our Lord about these many souls, my own sufferings and struggles also come to light. 

And then I would realize that we’re all in the same boat. 

We’re all on the same journey.

We may have different experiences but one thing is for sure, at one point in our lives we have faced many difficulties.

And while the world offers us the promise of comfort, an emancipation from all kinds of pain, our faith teaches us that suffering is the stuff that would make us saints.

St. Josemaria Escriva said it simply but beautifully: “Every athlete trains to stay in shape. We stay in shape if we struggle in little things… Life has all the beauty and joy of a sport.”

My friend, perhaps like many of us in Unboxing Catholicism community, I am not the “sporty” or “athletic” kind of guy.

But St. Escriva’s comment was very true.

Sporting Spirit to Be a Saint

I remember my college varsity friends training day in and day out whether there’s a competition or it was just an ordinary day.

It’s not that they sought suffering.

But they knew that suffering is part of being an athlete.

We may not be competing formally in any sport, but aren’t we all in this supernatural Olympics where the crown of heaven awaits us?

Didn’t God call us to have a sporting spirit to be a saint?

Perhaps today, our Lord is encouraging us to sacrifice a little more, knowing that He will only allow us to fight battles we could win.

Perhaps during this month of November, our Lord is inviting us to offer our inconveniences – big or small – to the holy souls in purgatory.

Perhaps Jesus is calling us to be more understanding; to smile even if we don’t feel like it; to do our duty of the moment even if it’s hard.

Called to Communion

My friend, I also realized that just as an athlete doesn’t train himself alone, we  cannot be lone ranger Christians.

Just as our ultimate end is communion with Him, our Lord is also inviting us to grow in our communion with others in the Church.

As we face many trials in our lives, may we remember that you are never alone.

Christ and His Church, with all the angels and saints are cheering you on wherever you are in your journey today.

Therefore, whatever you’re going through right now, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

I pray for your breakthroughs in all aspects of your life.

May you find peace in His promise and healing in His grace.

Prayers

As you end reading this, please also pray for the many people who send us via email and social media their stories, prayer intentions, and questions about the Catholic faith.

Please pray for my personal intentions as well:

• that our planned projects in Unboxing Catholicism (books, online courses, events, podcast series) may continue reaching more souls around the world – we’re now 16k+ in the email list!
• that our app Hallow may continue touching more souls and help everyone pray and find peace in God – we have more than 5 million downloads as of today, 500k+ are Filipinos!
• that I may help more families as a financial planner – I am writing a book about this and launching a podcast, too!

Do you want more?

And if you were blessed by this article and you want to receive more personalized messages, tips, and other resources from Unboxing Catholicism, please subscribe to our email list by downloading our starter guide on apologetics and evangelization – it’s completely free.

Although my replies are delayed, rest assured that I read all the emails being sent to us.

Till the next article! 

Let’s continue unboxing the faith and defending it clearly without being preachy.