Resilient (Mike Johnson)
Written by Mike Johnson
Mike is a former Division 1 athlete who has transitioned from his football career and is currently focusing on marathon training. Below is his thoughts on how he is able to wake up each day and push through hard days of training, remain consistent, and stay resilient.
From an early age I’ve always known my strength comes from the Lord and that truth has only grown stronger in every new chapter of my life. Whether it was through playing baseball in high school, playing Division I football or now training for marathons as a young adult, every season has been possible only by His blood and His strength.
For me, in a practical sense, resilience feels like waking up every day knowing it’s all because of Him. My body, my muscles and my mind only move because He allows them to. Every step,
every rep and every day working is a blessing.
Acts 20:24 has become my favorite verse since graduating college: “I don't care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And this work is to tell the good news about God's gift of undeserved grace.”
When I was younger, the phrase that carried me was “Blessed be Your name.” It symbolized both the battle we face as Christians and the moment in high school where I truly found Christ.
Looking back, I can see how those words were shaping me to surrender, to train not just my body but also my heart and mind. Nothing I do is because of me. I truly believe God rewards those who surrender to Him. Just being able to run is a blessing, and I remember that it can be taken away at any time. That mindset makes me want to suffer more, push harder and stay consistent.
Scripture often reminds us that a man’s pride is found in his work ethic, not in laziness. For me, fitness is one of the best tools for building discipline, and that discipline sets the rhythm for
everything else in life.
Practical Ways to Combine Faith + Fitness
● Pray before AND during exercise – make your reps and miles a conversation with God.
● Thank Him for the ability – remember, not everyone gets to move the way you do.
● Use your platforms to glorify Him – share your training as a testimony of His strength, not just yours. Christians are supposed to share the gospel, period.
