I stood up earlier and had the best stretch. I could feel my body loosening all the way to my toes. It felt soooo good.

I’ve been trying to get more flexible lately. I've never been very bendy to start with, and I don't know that I will ever become super flexible, but I can feel a difference. My body keeps reminding me that if I don’t stretch and move, stiffness sets in. Loosening those tight muscles feels amazing, and it also helps protect me from injuries, giving me the freedom to move around more easily. I like to go for the easy stretches, but try to remember that those that feel a bit uncomfortable at first often bring the most relief later on.

Stiffness doesn’t just happen in our muscles, it also settles into our hearts and minds. When we hold on too tightly to old hurts, familiar patterns, or our own way of seeing things, we become rigid. That rigidity may feel safe for a while, but it can keep us from experiencing the fullness of life God longs to give us. (It also leads to poor health - check this out HERE.)

Stretching our spiritual muscles often means opening our hearts to forgiveness, being patient with ourselves and others, or trusting in God, even when things are a bit unclear. At first, it can feel awkward or even painful, much like a physical stretch that reaches into places we didn’t know were tight. But it’s in those moments when we step beyond what feels comfortable that we discover the strength God has placed within us. (Shameless self-promotion: get your copy of Pursuing Uncomfortable: Lean In and Overcome HERE!)

That strength doesn’t come from gritting our teeth or holding tighter, but from loosening our grip and allowing the Spirit to move. And as Paul reminds us, “where the Spirit of God is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Freedom to let go of what weighs us down.
Freedom to move with grace.
Freedom to live with resilience.

Having a flexible spirit isn’t a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength rooted in grace. Each stretch, whether in body or spirit, is a reminder that freedom doesn’t come by staying rigid, but by allowing ourselves to be reshaped.

This week is a good time to check in on where you might need a little extra stretch. Maybe it’s time to let go of a worry that’s been hanging around for too long, or to soften your heart towards someone who’s been a bit tough to love. Or maybe just opening yourself up to a new path that God is gently guiding you toward. Just like when you exercise your body, small and consistent actions add up over time.

My wish for you this week, Reader, is that you find freedom in stretching physically, emotionally, and spiritually. May you discover that each time you loosen your grip and lean into God’s Spirit, you grow healthier, stronger, and more alive to joy. That's the fiLLLed life.

Live a fiLLLed life, Melissa ​