When God first called me to become an instructor with Revelation Wellness, it was unexpected. I was on one of my many journeys to try and get moving, and I complained in my heart about “perky fitness instructors.” I told God I wanted an instructor who hated to exercise because THAT I could relate to. His challenge? “Daughter, why don’t YOU become an instructor.” That didn’t make much sense because everyone knows that I am fundamentally lazy!
I went through Revelation Wellness Instructor Training with Platoon 21, an experience so far out of my comfort zone I couldn’t help but find transformation in the surrender. That week at retreat God cleaned house in my heart and started a process of healing my body. Turns out that was just the beginning.
BREAKING FREE FROM THE LIES
Shortly after returning home from retreat, I was struggling emotionally, so I pulled out my journal and began to write. What came up surprised me. God revealed to me a fundamental lie I have believed my whole life: That because I was conceived by “accident,” I did not deserve to be here. I began to press into God for transformation once again because I knew it was impossible to heal such a wound on my own.
Fast forward over a year, I saw the announcement that Revelation Wellness was releasing a Couch to 5K program. On my darkest days, I often say I have the urge to just run screaming, so I decided to see what it felt like to learn how to run in a more controlled fashion. I expected it to be hard, but I had no idea what goodness was in store.
The first few running portions were short, 2-3 minutes at a time. I struggled, but Alisa was talking to me through my earbuds. She said, “Don’t focus on the whole time, just focus on the next step.” And “You have dominion over your body, you can do this!” Those encouragements kept me going. In the beginning, my body was not used to running and reacted adversely. My body was inflamed and my resting heart rate showed signs of stress.
LEARNING HOW TO REST
I spoke with one of my holistic practitioners and after much discussion, we realized that my body’s parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous system was rarely showing up. I was shocked that someone as lazy as I am could have such a problem. I laze about all the time. That’s resting, right?
Turns out it’s not. And I began adding rest and restorative things like sauna, stretching, mindfulness, and meditation to my running and rest days. It was time consuming.
For every 30 minutes of exertion, my body needed an hour or more of focused restoration to find a normal resting heart rate again. Shortcuts didn’t work. I became committed to both the running and the restoring. And then God started talking to me as I ran.
Something about learning to stay present in my body as I ran combined with Alisa’s Couch to 5K recordings blew my transformation wide open. God showed me that my laziness wasn’t a character flaw to be overcome, but a trauma “freeze” response that He wanted to heal.
Childhood trauma left me dissociated and even after many years of therapy to heal my mind and emotions, my body was still catching up. What I interpreted as lazy was a residual response to my need as a kid to stay small, stay quiet, stay out of the way and above all, stay invisible. The day of the program that Alisa asked me to say out loud, “I was made to move!” I ran and cried as God’s truth soaked into my spirit. My endurance began to improve with every single run.
During week 9, Alisa’s teaching was about the man at the pool of Bethesda. “Do you WANT to be healed?” echoed through every cell of my body at that moment. The foundational lie I had uncovered a year ago was suddenly laid bare at the feet of my ever-compassionate Abba.
Scenes from that time long ago when I was conceived in “error” played before my mind’s eye but through the lens of my loving Father. I saw with new eyes the way He saw me being made and chose to speak ME into that little bundle of cells, from a thought in His heart before he laid the foundation of the world. And as I heard Him whisper to my heart that HE paid the price for me to be here so I could stop trying to do penance with my pain and suffering, chains fell from my heart. Freedom swept over me and I ran my race in victory.
I won’t pretend everything has been perfect since then. Healing doesn’t always feel like healing in the process, but I’m standing on the revelation that I’m not lazy. I’m a daughter of the King who was made on purpose for a purpose. And as Alisa reminded me in the final episodes of the Couch to 5K, “We don’t do that anymore.”
I’m a runner now and I love it. I’ve also learned what real rest looks like and it’s intentional and doesn’t look a bit like laziness.
In the comments below, share your Revelation Wellness Couch to 5k testimony!
Jennifer Erickson, graduate of RWIT Platoon 21 is a Revelation Fitness instructor, writer and college student. She lives in St. Louis, MO with her husband and 3 children. You can follow her on Facebook.
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Workout with us in this #wednesdayworkout! For more workouts like this, visit RevWellTV!
AMIA’S CARDIO DANCE- “FEARLESS”
This class is all cardio and all dance. Get ready to move to the beat and shake yourself free! (BEGINNER, NO EQUIPMENT, PHILIPPIANS 3:13)
12 Responses
Completed my #revwell5k !!! Last summer I had a knee injury and the orthopedic doctor told me it was just an arthritic flare up. It was news to me that I even had arthritis. He told me I had severe arthritis and was a candidate for a knee replacement if I was ready. In that moment the Holy Spirit deposited the knowledge inside of me that I was not going to have a knee replacement instead I would be running a 5K. No one would’ve looked at the outside of me and thought that was possible.
No one would’ve looked at my medical chart and seen the extensive surgery I had on my ankle would think I could run a 5K. I did not think I could run at all. But, I knew that I knew that I knew that this would happen. My body proceeded to not cooperate. I went to PT on fire believing I was training for a 5K not just rehabbing my knee. Meanwhile, I broke my foot. This led to a summer of limping. I didn’t know which side to limp on my right knee or my left foot. I proceeded through the rest of the year with many excuses.
Then, I heard about the revelation wellness 5K. I was on the couch at the time because my workout routine has been disrupted by COVID-19. I knew this was my second invitation to start training for a 5K. 10 weeks ago tomorrow I set out with my earbuds in, my shoes laced up still not knowing if I could run. I started the five-minute walk and then Alisa Keeton spoke the words that I should just lean forward and run… so I did. Seems so simple.
But it was one of the most incredible moments of my life. I ran for two whole minutes! I had written down the promise on my calendar that today I would be a different person. I would be transformed during this training from the inside out. I am a revelation wellness fitness teacher from platoon 21, so I knew that this time with the Lord and moving my body had the potential to change my life. Trying to find words right now to describe even some of the things that have happened during these 10 weeks. I tied my shoes and the Lord showed up every single time. I was concerned because I had no plan for if the weather was bad. I never had an inclement day for 10 weeks.
The thing that bubbled to the service during the race day run where my constant need to stay safe and comfortable. I renounced any and all thoughts of avoiding public humiliation, fearing pain, and dreading discomfort. The Lord does not allow any of this into my life unless he will ultimately going to get more glory from my discomfort than no discomfort. He works out ALL things for the GOOD of those who love him.
I am one grateful child. Thank you Rev Well for making this training available.
My fire has been relit!
This is an INCREDIBLE testimony! Thank you for sharing! Thank you for obeying the Father and pressing into uncomfortable things!
Loved this!! It was so fun and met me right where im at this morning. Pumped me up for the day ahead
We’re so glad this pumped you up! Have you started our Couch to 5k program?
Just yesterday my thoughts were, I can’t mean anything to God because I was born to an unwed mother, I wasn’t supposed to be here. Also thinking that my body is too broken to ever be fit again.
Just writing these words makes me so sad that these kinds of negative thoughts are taking space in my head and my heart. But God is so so good he put Jennifer and Sues’ story before me to show me that I am a child loved and wanted by him and that through him and only him I can be whole again, thank you, Jesus! Thank you ladies for sharing a bit of yourself. there is always someone needing to hear encouragement.
You are so loved, Susanna! Thank you for sharing your heart. You are in the right place!
This story is EXACTLY why i love revelation wellness! We all Need revelation in these areas!
Amen! We are so glad you’re on mission with us, Leah!
I love this! I HAVEN’T ran Since my father died in a house fire 5 yeArs ago yestErday. My heart broke watching the firefighters trying to get my dad out but it was too late! My dad aNd I worked together since I was 14. 5 yeArs ago i too was looking at Becoming a Rw insTructor. Now im 50 pounds heavier And feel unworthy! I need to pray and heal and see what Gods plan is. I am so glad I opened this email today!
You are worthy! We’re so glad this blessed you. You’re in the right place for healing and transformation through Christ.
Jennifer,
Thank you so much for this testimony! I have also IDENTIFIED myself as INHERENTLY lazy. If it were up to my flesh, i would lay in bed all day. but god! he is giving me joy in movement and keeping me motivated without laying unrealistic expectations on myself. you have also given me something to look into and pray about – if my “lazy” is really a freeze coping MECHANISM. Thank you sister! P25
We’re so glad this blessed you, Heather! You’re in the right place to learn how to be joyfully sweaty!