* Post updated February 2024
I’ll never forget it.
I was in the middle of a dark and crowded room with music bumping into my soul, energy, and laughter flowing around sweaty bodies.
As I listened to the fitness instructors announcing their shift to a ministry called Revelation Wellness, I immediately started crying. I couldn’t explain why. The emotion just welled up and overflowed. It was as if my spirit knew something before my flesh could catch on.
Over the next few months, the “what ifs” of starting a Revelation Wellness ministry went from an idea to reality as two friends, and I shifted from dreaming to planning.
Truthfully, I was hesitant to dive in. At the time, money didn’t add up, and I didn’t feel fully able. Logically, it made no sense. It was the 11th hour when I committed to becoming a Revelation Wellness Instructor.
1. You are qualified.
Almost immediately, the lies came.
Everything in my flesh told me I wasn’t capable of leading fitness classes.
I have a consistent inability to hear the rhythm in music and move in a way that resembles dancing. I literally dance to the beat of a different drum.
These lies were enough to make me argue with the Lord.
Then, God took me to Exodus 4:
“The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (v. 11)
It was as if God was saying to me, “Who made your mind? Your body? Your ears? I did. I will help you and teach you.”
A year after Revelation Wellness Instructor Training, I realized the fulfillment of His promise during a conversation with my mom. She told me, “I don’t get it. You can’t dance!” My response was, “No, but Jesus gives me the ability twice a week for an hour!” He truly does!
In His abundance, I have even choreographed my own routines. I still trip over my feet and get off rhythm when I’m not leading a fitness class. God continually reminds me that it is in His strength, and not my own, that I am equipped.
Become an Instructor
2. Be who He made you to be.
Next came the lie that I was not enough.
Having a quiet energy, I thrive in small, intimate settings where deep and intentional conversation occurs.
Comparing myself to instructors who naturally energize the room, I’d try to “bring the hype” into class.
Exhausted, I cried out, “What am I supposed to do?”
I felt God say, “Be you.”
It didn’t seem possible to be me and still be good at what I wanted to do until I read Ephesians 2:10:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
God’s fingerprints are etched into my being. With His purposes established in me, He knit every fiber of who I am together intentionally.
I began seeing my reserved and reflective nature as a strength. In the same way, a rainbow is a masterpiece with each color shining differently and beautifully. Gifts in the body of Christ are varied and should be celebrated.
God continually reminds me that it is in His strength, and not my own, that I am equipped.
3. This is a gift of your freedom in Christ.
Soon, the enemy upped the ante when he began challenging my freedom.
The truth is, I entered into Revelation Wellness Instructor Training broken. I had been riding the roller coaster of obsession and neglect for far too long.
Becoming a “fitness teacher” felt fraudulent. Add “gospel preacher” to that, and it all felt laughable.
I knew my relationship with food was nothing short of idolatry and sin. I told myself I couldn’t share God’s promises of freedom if I didn’t live it perfectly. But Jesus had something different to say.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36)
Through my belief in Jesus, I was born again into a new family, receiving the title of daughter and the gift of freedom. Because of Christ’s fully sufficient sacrifice on the cross, God looks at me with delight.
I can walk forward knowing that I am covered. Christ continues to refine my impurities and shatter the chains of bondage around my heart. This process isn’t a straight shot. My humanness has resulted in re-routings, u-turns, and traffic jams. Over and over again, God fortifies His love for me—pursuing me and loving me deeper still.
The beauty of each of these promises is that they are for you too, dear friend. Whatever you are stepping into, going through, or facing, you can move forward with confidence knowing you are equipped, made well and free in Christ.
In the comments below, tell us the lies that keep you from signing up for Instructor Training. What promises is God reminding you of? Are you a new instructor? How do these tips encourage you?
Jess Doan is a wife and mother of two boys. She graduated from RWIT with Platoon 12. She is the founder of New Way Ministries. You can follow New Way Ministries on Facebook and Instagram at @newwayministries4319.
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20 Responses
Thank you for sharing! Just got back from retreat and really relate to all you said, very encouraging!
Thank you, Tracy! Congratulations for completing Platoon 22! Woot woo!
Financially just not able.
We pray for God’s provision over your desire to go through Revelation Wellness Instructor Training. There are so many testimonies of God providing just the right amount of money for people to go through training.
ThaNk you, Jess! This spoke directly to my heart. I especially enjoyed (and made notE of ) the part about the rainbow— that, just like the unique colors, All of God’s gifts are varied and to be celebrated! Personally, i feel “too young” or like i dont know “enough” to Teach, but then i remember that the holy spirit is not limited By my age. He dWells in Lots of different temples, praise god! These two verses encourage and remind me That it is not up to Me, but because of God’s love for us in sending jesus! Those who He calls, He Equips.
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
“Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.”
Colossians 2:18-19 ESV
You are not too young, Neely! Thank you for sharing your heart and these verses! We are praying you into Platoon 23!
Love this. Great reminders!!
Yes! He is a good God who provides for us and qualifies us! I doubt many of us expected to do group fitness training!
It is a battle that I am fighting alongside our God. I know, without a doubt now, that this is what I am suppose to do. I am waiting very patiently for him to open up all of the right doors and he is doing just that. what has held me back so far: –my health, which i am becoming healed after surgery and learning how to eat clean and move my body. –the enemy lies of i am to overweight, out of shape and a bad role model…this is ending, i started my new healthy journey in january thanks to stephanie ackerman introducing me to revelation wellness. –not enough income, this will not be a problem once all doors are open, i have faith he will supply this need when the time is right. i feel that spring of 2020 will be my time but i am still waiting on god to show me in his timing. praying, believing…the time will come!
We will pray you in, Jan! It is amazing how God works!
I related to this on so many levels, thank you for sharing and encouraging us to trust god will equip us to what he calls us to!
Thank you, Aubrey! We are so pleased you are here! 🙂
Speaking straight to my heart to confirm his call! he equps us to lead as he created us, Thank you for sharing. #platoon20
Thank you for sharing, Meg! Yay Platoon 20!
I so enjoy these exercises! But mainly like them that the Instructors rely on God!! God Bless!
Yes we do! Thanks for moving with us, Loretta!
Just completed my training, P27 ❤️. I’m so grateful that I came across this blog. It was very encouraging and pointed me back to God’s truth of who I am and reminded me that my ability comes from HIM! Exodus 4 and Ephesians 2:10 Thank you!
Yay! Welcome to the Family! I’m so glad this post was encouraging for you!
I get emails almost daily since RW sparked my interest and I requested an instructor packet and signed up for a Rev on the Road that is coming up in April. However, it hasn’t taken long for satan to start working on changing my mind. I opened a Revelation Wellness email this morning as I set down to position myself to really talk to and listen to God. I open up the piece that was to describe the 4 tracks and reading about each one my heart wanted to do all 4 of them. Scrolling back up the page the ribbon video at the top catches my eye and I’m fixated on it. It was of the church body moving and sweating and laughing together on the big sunlit gym floor. It moved me to tears and emotion and I didn’t know why. Then I opened Jess Doan’s testimony and read her first couple paragraphs describing the same overflow of the Spirit and I started crying again. I can see where God has been grooming me throughout my life. In the last little over 12 years, since truly giving my life to Him, he has been calling me out over and over to do new things that in my mind Tara was not capable of doing. The calls didn’t stop so I’d step into each one and do them afraid. I know that I know that I’m being called to a ministry such as this. I’m holding my breath and stepping in his direction once again. I think I know but asking to be sure, which track first Lord? #revontheroadknoxville2024:-)
Thank you so much for sharing, Tara! We are cheering your forward! We can’t wait to see you at ROTR and in training! God has equipped you for this, don’t let the enemy tell you anything different!