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Those that know me know I sift everything through the filter of the Bible. I know this is not for everyone and also know that while the Bible addresses everything in life it does not always give direct answers but often gives principles and direction – both are important. In this post I want to address how this current health issue aligns with God’s promise in Romans 8:28 and then will put a rundown of what I have found this week health and training wise.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28
When it comes to looking at health issues – for that matter any event or occasion – that is pretty universally seen as “BAD” the question arises about where is God in this. For so long the Gospel has been sold as a “get out of hell” card as in a board game or marketed as a life enhancement addition. When God and the Gospel are presented, or saying it in a more crass way Sold, this way many do not know how to respond when life seems to throw one what seems to be a curve.
To be honest while we may want to figure out why something happens at the end of the day a Believer simply has to have faith it is in God’s will as it is possible you will never know till Glory. This does not mean we do not work to deal with issues or situations but do so knowing that God is sovereign over everything and knows what is best for us and what will most glorify Him. Yes bad, from our perspective, can be good for us and how we deal with it will for sure speak to our relationship with God.
It is also important to understand that God is God and we are not and as Isaiah 55:8-9 says:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Due to this often we simply have to trust in God and do as He leads. Again, this not only builds ones faith but shows the world we truly follow God even when things are not going as we may have planned, understand or the world sees as beneficial.
With what is going on with my health I will admit I am bummed but that will pass. But, being bummed does not stop me from seeking to see where God wants me in this. While the obvious place is to seek him for healing be it via medical intervention or divine intervention – well even both – but there is the issue I dealt with in a post a short time ago about asking myself if my actives were an idol - Is it an Idol. Let’s be real while I want this to turn out great and can go back to normal – well a revised normal I was aimed at before this started - it could go a different direction. In reading The Haywire Heart Lennard Zinn, and have heard this from others, had to change what he did. He could still ride but not race or go as long but in this still found enjoyment and realized he had time for other things as well. If my outcome is more like Lennard’s than those who go back at it then so be it and all to the Glory of God.
Often in the midst of what we do as Christians we claim we do “ALL” to the Glory of God but as have not been faced with an alternate reality are not really tested to see if we really mean “ALL.” I shared Romans 8:28 to start that says that in God’s sovereign plan “ALL” things work for the good of the called of God. Again there is that word “ALL.” Yea in scripture the word “all” does not always mean everything as can mean “all kinds” but here iit s the all inclusive “ALL.” So, when what seems not so great, or even bad, to the world we often have to check our faith and see that we really do see that God means “ALL.” Yea, we have to work with our emotions and human nature and will maybe struggle but that is fine. Just as with most athletic endeavors we gain more when we struggle and it strengthens us and so it is in our walk with God and thus all part of the “Good.”
For me there is a big question mark as to what is ahead. The one thing I am assured of is God will be with me in all that is ahead and my identity is in Him and not riding, running, rowing or any other activity. Are they important to me – for sure – but not the most important and not even 2nd or 3rd when am honest. While I want to come out of this so as to be active – as see that as part of being healthy and being able to do all I need to do – and even be able to do some racing if it does not go that way I will adjust and give God the Glory. One thing that came to mind – as I tend to enter the longer events offered. I wrote a blog post - It’s OK to Want to Only Run 5K’s: Or any other Distance for that Matter!! – that applies to riding and running and basically asks WHY do we always seem to want to do the more extreme events when even the so called lesser events are even extreme. I think Unbound is a great example as if you tell someone you did that race they will ask about the 200 miler and often not even contemplate the 100 miler in such a manner that 100 miles – a long way – gets minimized and it should not. Bottom line is to know your why for what you do. If in my case it means if I want to race in the future I have to do the shortest race/ride then so be it and I will do it to the glory of God.
Again, I know that some who may read this will not share my view on God and the activities of life but I see God involved – be it directly, indirectly or simply taking His hands off – in all things. I also pray that no matter how one may view God that He will be seen as central to my life.
As an update to how things have been going here is an update for the past week:
I did 5 rides on Zwift this week and in general kept them easy. Did have one ride that I stopped early as HR went up more than it should have but then at end of the week while tired did a couple rides where watts were significantly higher and HR was fine. Did get my new Frontier X Plus HRM that takes ECGs this past Thursday and so far have not seen anything during rest or riding as have done a number of ECGs. Did not get it early enough to see what might have been there on the ride I stopped. That said I did have it on overnight once and while felt strange a few times nothing abnormal seemed to show on the ECG. Am in the process of wearing it for 24 hours with a 2 hour ride at the end of it to see what shows up. Right now just collecting data to give to the doctor when I visit on July 8th – thinking he might be a little surprised as pretty sure he does not get a lot of patients with all this info ready for him. Starting to wonder if this is AFIB or something else as can have other issues that seem like AFIB or even cause an AFIB event. Then again might be early on in AFIB where events are not as frequent - we shall see. Plan for this week is to just ride about the same – will try a 2hr easy ride on Monday but then no more than an hour the rest of the rides for the week.
Monday (6/15/26) – Banded Hour Zwift Ride
Watts – 96W Avg, 102W Normalized, 247W Max
HR – 92Avg, 130Max
Felt tired but HR fine, one jump but went down quickly
Tuesday (6/16/26) – Planned 30min to 1hr Easy Flat Zwift Ride
Watts – 107W Avg, 110 Normalized, 156W Max
HR – 116 Avg, 144 Max
Stopped early as HR went up once early but came down then went up near end and while not supper high was not going down. HR was overall high again for the effort.
Thursday (6/18/26) – Super Easy 30min Flat Zwift ride
Watts – 101W Avg, 104W Normalized, 128W Max
HR – 112 Avg, 128 Max
Easy ride with no HR spikes and went up when ending. HR is higher than normal for a ride this easy and still a little tire
Friday (6/19/26) – 1HR Flat Ride on Zwift
Watts – 173W Avg, 184 Normalized, 435W Max
HR – 94 Avg, 126 Max
Started using new HRM that takes real ECG - Rode harder - 184w normalized - and no HR spikes. Even did about 30 seconds at over 400 and only went to 126. Nothing showed up on ECG
Saturday (6/20/26) - Easy 1HR Zwift ride with a Couple hard efforts
Watts – 174W Avg, 192W Normalized, 674W Max
HR – 102 Avg, 133 Max
While no heart issues did feel off a little and legs felt a little tired but have not done much so not quote right. In two sort hard efforts HR did not go too high at all.
More to come:
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