Why I Keep Skipping Exercise (and What God Keeps Teaching Me About It)

What part of your routine do you always try to skip if you can?

If I’m honest, the part of my routine I always try to skip…or at least postpone until the mythical “later”, is exercise. Not because I hate it, but because I don’t see it the same way most people do. For me, walking on the beach isn’t about burning calories; it’s about breathing again. It’s prayer disguised as movement.

But the moment exercise turns into a checklist item (something to “get done”), it loses its soul. I crave meaning more than metrics. Still, my body keeps reminding me that worship isn’t only spiritual; it’s physical too. God designed these bodies not just as vessels for work or creativity, but as living temples meant to move, rest, and reflect His rhythm.

The Body That Waits for Me

There’s a strange tension in me, I can sit still for hours writing, creating, or praying, yet my body whispers for motion. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds me, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” Temples require upkeep. But sometimes I treat mine like an afterthought, holy, yet neglected.

I once read Ann Voskamp say, “The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, not a monument to self.” That line hit me like a wave. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. Every stretch, every step, every walk by the water is a small act of gratitude that says, “Thank You for giving me this body, God. Help me honor it.”

Prayer in Motion

I’ve never been one for treadmills or timed reps. But when my feet hit the sand and I start talking to God, it’s as if heaven leans in. I don’t see those beach walks as workouts, they’re worship sessions. I tell Him my worries, whisper prayers for my friends, and let the rhythm of the waves rewrite my breath.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary.” That renewal doesn’t always come from sleeping or sitting, sometimes it’s born from moving with God. As Frederick Buechner wrote, “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is.” When I walk, I listen to God, to my heartbeat, to the quiet instruction of grace.

Soul Insights

1. My body is not my project; it’s my prayer partner.

I used to see my body as something to fix, heavier when I was stressed, slower when I was tired. But the older I get, the more I realize it’s the place where my spirit and God meet. Each ache, each deep breath, is a conversation between heaven and earth. Movement becomes prayer when done with awareness.

2. Discipline doesn’t always look holy, but it is.

Dragging myself to move after a long day doesn’t feel spiritual, but it is obedience. Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” Consistency is my worship when motivation fails. The “yes” to taking care of my body is a quiet way of saying, “I’m still showing up, God.”

3. Busyness is not the same as fullness.

I often fill my days with spiritual or creative work, yet still feel empty by nightfall. That’s when I remember that a full schedule doesn’t equal a full spirit. John O’Donohue once wrote, “Your body is your faithful companion; listen to it before it stops listening to you.” When I slow down enough to move with intention, I feel whole again — integrated, not divided.

4. God meets me in rhythm, not rush.

The world tells me to “work out”; God tells me to “walk with Me.” It’s not about speed, it’s about sync. When I walk the shoreline, I remember Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness.” Restoration is not achieved; it’s received.

5. Avoidance reveals what we’re afraid to face.

I realized I skip exercise not because I dislike it, but because it forces me to feel. When I move, I can’t hide behind screens or words; I have to face myself, my limits, my fatigue, my humanity. And maybe that’s the point. God isn’t asking me to perfect my routine; He’s asking me to return to myself.

Final Thoughts

Every time I choose to move, even just a walk by the waves, I reclaim a piece of balance. Exercise isn’t separate from my faith; it’s an extension of it. The body that prays also needs to breathe. And maybe what I’ve been skipping isn’t “exercise” at all. Maybe it’s the invitation to experience God through motion.

I still don’t love structured workouts. But I love the moments when God and I walk together, no agenda, no performance, just breath, gratitude, and sand underfoot. That’s where peace lives.

Your Turn

Ask yourself: what part of your routine do you tend to skip, and what does that reveal about what your soul truly needs?

Maybe it’s not laziness, maybe it’s longing.

Today, take one step toward caring for your body not as a chore, but as a form of worship.

Go for a walk, stretch, dance, or simply breathe. God will meet you there, in the rhythm, not the rush.

By the way…

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to check out my book 17 Syllables of Me and visit my website, SoulPath Insights. They carry more of the journey I’m learning to live.

Thank you for taking the time to read! 🤗

Soul Path Insights