How Much Should a Christian Mom Prioritize Exercise?
2:00 p.m. had finally arrived and the kids were down for a nap. This was my time—my sacred ninety minutes alone—without taking someone to the potty, nursing a baby, or listening to kids’ music. I had been eager to get myself back in shape after baby number three was born, but it had been hard amid the demands of motherhood. Now was my chance—I got out my exercise mat, clicked on the workout, and was just beginning when I heard a door creak open: “Mom? I’m thirsty!” Minutes later, I was back to the opening stretches when I heard the baby cry out. Was it really going to be impossible to carve out even thirty minutes for a workout? I was exhausted, and the string of interruptions left me wanting to just take a nap.
Motherhood requires a mountain of energy, perseverance, and sacrifice. I remember moments like those above as if they were yesterday. When you’re caring for your kids’ little bodies, it’s hard to squeeze in time to look after your own. It’s easy to put yourself on the back burner, to go from need to need with little time to even glance in the mirror. But so often, when we neglect caring for ourselves, we end up running on fumes, our exhaustion and irritability spilling over onto the very people we love the most.
Over time, things got easier. As my children grew older, I definitely had more time to care for myself. I’d also realized by then that, even with young kids, making time to exercise helped me handle the highs and lows of each day better. There’s something about moving my body in an enjoyable way—a walk outside with a stroller, an online HIIT class, a dance party with my daughter—that lifts my spirits. Maybe it’s the endorphins that are released or the fresh air on my face, but exercise has a way of re-energizing me and lifting my mood. I realized that I’m a better mom when I’ve had time to move my body in an intentional way.
So how do we find a balance? How do we sacrificially care for the needs of our family while also remembering to care for ourselves? What does Scripture have to say about each side?
Made to Move
The Bible tells us that we are made in God’s image. He’s given us a physical body and an eternal soul. He’s created us with bones, muscles, and tendons, all with the intention to move. As image bearers, we want to honor and care for the bodies God has given us.
Not only that—when we’ve trusted in Jesus, the Spirit of God comes to live in our body. Just as the Levites were to fastidiously care for the physical temple where the Israelites worshiped God, so we are to steward well the “temple” that God’s given us. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Keeping our bodies strong enables us to be ready to serve in whatever way he might call us— whether by carrying babies and groceries in our arms or using our feet to travel to share the good news of Jesus with our neighbors. Fitness helps us to be faithful to God.[1]
Holding Plans Loosely
Yet at the same time, we all know how motherhood has a tendency to change even the best-laid plans. Just as we’re to care for our bodies as image bearers, so we’re also called to make sacrifices for the needs of others: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Let’s say that right when you are heading out the door for a run, someone throws up. Or you’re eager to get to the gym for your class, but your son needs help with his homework. What do you do? Decisions like these require the Lord’s wisdom. Obviously, sick kids need to be tended to quickly, but could your son’s homework wait until after your gym class? Ask the Lord to help you find the right balance. In both of these examples, glorifying God means using our bodies to love others well—either by setting aside your run to care for your child or by choosing to go for the workout, knowing you’ll likely have more patience and energy as a result. We hold our plans with an open hand, knowing God’s purposes for our day will prevail.
God knew the interruptions to your day before the sun even rose. He knows the sleepless night you had with your newborn, your fading energy, and the mounting anxieties over your child’s issues in school. He knows your desire to honor him with your physical self. Your workout routine might look different each day or non-existent in some seasons, but seek to move and care for your body in ways that will help you love others well. Our physical bodies matter—and they allow us to demonstrate Christ’s love to a watching world.
[1] John Piper, “Is Body Image My Idol?,” Desiring God, May 17, 2017, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-body-image-my-idol.