This story appears in FCA Magazine’s November/December 2016 issue. Subscribe today!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

In 2005, U.S. Army combat medic Kortney Clemons was a couple of weeks away from finishing his tour in Iraq when a group he was training encountered a U.S. Hummer that had flipped. They immediately rushed to help. As they loaded a soldier onto the helicopter, a roadside bomb exploded. Three soldiers were killed, and Clemons lost his right leg from just above the knee.

Clemons’ mother, offering perspective and encouragement, told him, “You could have lost your life, but instead God left you behind for a purpose.”

That word—purpose—can be extremely powerful. Ultimately, all of us as Christians have a very similar big Purpose—to love God and love others, to glorify God in how we live, to know Him and make Him known. But our everyday lives are filled with unique little purposes, like opportunities to extend compassion or help a neighbor in need.

A good friend recently reminded me that my big Purpose needs to be greater than my problems. If the overarching reason I’m doing something is big enough, then I’ll be able to overcome the obstacles that come my way. If not, I’ll be consumed with my problems and fall into the trap of negativity, complaints and excuses.

It would’ve been easy for Clemons to turn negative or complain after the incident in Iraq. But instead, with helpful words from an encouraging mother, he found a Purpose big enough to turn his challenges into a grand opportunity to rediscover meaning in his life, and it led him all the way to London in 2012 as a track athlete in the Paralympic Games.

Clemons’ big Purpose fueled him so thoroughly that it overshadowed any potential problems. “Your mindset really determines what you’re going to do and who you will become,” he said. “We all have purpose. We’re all part of something much bigger than us.”

What is your big Purpose in your physical health? For many of us, it’s hard to articulate—that clear vision of what our health will look like in different seasons and as we age and why it’s so important to us. Lacking a vision, and not thinking about why it really matters, impacts so many day-to-day decisions. Our problems—regarding what we eat, how much we exercise, or how we choose to relieve stress or increase energy—become greater than our Purpose, because we don’t really have one. Let me give you some benefits of living with Purpose as you get or stay on the path to great health.

Purpose diminishes distractions. The most common distractions are comparison, doubt and excuses. When we compare ourselves to others, doubt our ability to actually change our health, or make excuses for why we’re not where we want to be, we will be distracted. Purpose keeps your eyes on the “why” and helps you make good decisions to stay on track.

Purpose pushes you through the pain. Our spiritual enemy resists and opposes everything that could make us better. There will be mental, physical, emotional and spiritual battles as you earnestly strive to be your best. Let’s be real: There is a painful price to pay if you truly want to be healthy. You will have to deny yourself and what you crave and train even when you don’t feel like it. But with a big Purpose, it’s worth it.

Purpose empowers you to please God. When you are striving to live a life that pleases God, your Purpose gives you the fuel you will need to keep going. Knowing that even small decisions I make can make God smile motivates me to choose the path that leads to life.

Jesus modeled this perfectly when He kept His Purpose in mind on the way to the cross for you and me.

“[Let us fix] our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

He endured unimaginable physical and spiritual suffering because He knew His big Purpose. He knew what was at stake. He knew what His sacrifice meant for all of us, for all of eternity. His Purpose was so much greater than His problems, no matter how severe they were.

So, why do you pursue fitness? Why do you train? What is your Purpose? Keep it front and center. When you do this, you’ll remember that your Purpose is greater than your problems, and—much like Clemons—you’ll overcome obstacles and reach heights you never dreamed of.

-FCA-