The Bike Rack Battle

We were packing up to go to the lake, and my daughter REALLY wanted us to bring our bikes. Sounds simple, right? Oh my—it was so much work.

First, we had to locate the bike rack. Then came the puzzle of figuring out how to attach it. And finally, the ultimate test: loading the bikes. I had not touched that contraption in over a year because I conveniently avoided it last season. It was a task of gargantuan proportions.

After some yelling, lifting, re-trying, pinched fingers, and multiple strap attempts, we finally got the bikes on. Not my best mom moment. Less than 10 miles down the road, I glanced in the mirror and saw my bike twisting off the rack! Good grief. Apparently, we hadn’t strapped them down well enough for the 20 mph winds. We pulled over, adjusted a few straps, and got back on the road.

That week, we tackled three different bike rides, which meant unloading and reloading the bikes three more times. Guess what? By the end of the week, we were experts—okay, maybe not experts—but we could load and unload without a meltdown, and we looked like we actually knew what we were doing.

Speaking of training—good thing I’ve been lifting weights, because it definitely took some muscle to load those bikes up. All that physical training came in handy. Spiritual strength works in the same way—it doesn’t come from one moment of effort, but from consistent practice over time.

When we take time off from God—whether it’s skipping church for a season, forgetting to pray, or drifting from our Bible-reading routine—it’s hard to get back into it. It feels awkward and even frustrating. It might even feel like failing or fumbling.

But here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect perfection. He simply invites us to return.

“Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. – Malachi 3:7

Spiritual growth, like loading bikes, gets better with practice. The more often we pray, worship, or spend time in God’s Word, the more natural it becomes. And eventually, what once felt overwhelming becomes something we can do with confidence—and even joy.

“Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:7b–8

So if you’re feeling spiritually rusty, don’t be discouraged. Just start. God isn’t watching for perfect form. He’s watching for your heart.