When Do You Feel Closest to God? Faith, Fitness, and Living Your Catholic Calling
When Do You Feel Closest to God?
There’s a moment in every journey when we pause to reflect—not on what we’re doing, but on why we’re doing it. Whether we’re kneeling in prayer, pushing through a workout, or sitting in quiet presence with a loved one, we encounter glimpses of God’s presence. But when do we feel closest to Him? When do we truly sense His love, His guidance, His strength?
For me, five places bring me closest to God:
- At Mass
- When I read Scripture
- Spending time with my daughter with autism
- When I’m working out
- When I’m working with my clients
Each of these moments ties back to my faith, my calling as The Catholic Fitness Coach, and ultimately, to Christ’s own words in Matthew 25:31-46—the call to serve Him in the least of our brothers and sisters. Through fitness, faith, and the everyday moments of life, I’ve learned that closeness to God isn’t reserved for church walls. It’s built in the quiet places where we live out our unique vocations.
Encountering Christ at Mass
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. Every time I attend Mass, I’m reminded that Christ is truly present, offering Himself as nourishment for our bodies and souls. There’s nothing else in this world that compares to receiving Him in the Blessed Sacrament.
At the altar, we witness the ultimate sacrifice—Christ giving Himself for us. And in that moment, I’m reminded that my own life, my work, and my fitness journey must also be a gift. The Mass strengthens me to go out and serve, to bring Christ to others through my vocation.
Theology of the Body teaches us that our physical bodies are meant for worship, for service, for love. Our fitness, our health, and our daily actions should glorify God. And the Eucharist, the very Body and Blood of Christ, is the nourishment that empowers me to go out and rebuild not just my own body, but the bodies and lives of those I serve.
When I kneel after Communion, I feel the closest to God. Not because I am perfect, but because I am His.
Hearing His Voice in Scripture
Scripture is where I meet Christ’s voice. The Word of God is alive, cutting through the distractions and fears of the world, bringing clarity to my calling. When I sit down with my Bible, I hear His truth.
One passage that deeply resonates with me is Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus speaks about the Final Judgment:
“For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me… Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
As The Catholic Fitness Coach, this passage reminds me that my work is about more than just workouts and meal plans. It’s about service. Every time I help someone regain strength, every time I encourage a client struggling with body image, every time I remind someone that their body is a temple of the Holy Spirit—I am serving Christ.
Scripture reminds me that faith and fitness are not separate. They are intertwined, because our bodies are part of God’s creation, and how we care for them is an act of worship.
God’s Presence in My Daughter with Autism
There is no purer love than that of a child, and my daughter, Mary Ann, brings me closest to God in ways I never expected. Autism brings challenges, but it also brings incredible moments of grace.
When I spend time with my daughter, I see Christ in her—her joy, her struggles, her resilience. She teaches me patience, selflessness, and the beauty of unconditional love. She reminds me that strength isn’t just about lifting weights; it’s about lifting others.
In many ways, Mary Ann embodies the truth of Matthew 25—she is one of “the least” that Jesus speaks of, not in worth, but in how the world often overlooks those with differences. Yet in God’s eyes, she is perfect. When I care for her, advocate for her, and simply enjoy her presence, I am serving Christ Himself.
This is what Theology of the Body teaches us as well—every human being has infinite dignity. Every body, regardless of ability, is created in the image of God. My daughter reminds me that fitness isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about the strength to love, to be patient, and to embrace life’s unexpected challenges with faith.
Finding God in My Workouts
There’s something sacred about movement. When I push my body through a tough workout, I feel connected to God in a unique way. The discipline, the endurance, the focus—it all mirrors the spiritual life.
St. Paul reminds us:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Fitness isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about stewardship. When I train, I feel closest to God because I am honoring the body He gave me. The sweat, the struggle, the soreness—they are reminders that growth comes through challenge. The same is true in faith.
When I had my stroke in 2019, my body felt broken. I had to relearn movement, rebuild strength, and trust that God wasn’t finished with me. Every step of that journey brought me closer to Him. Now, when I work out, I don’t take movement for granted. It is a gift. A prayer. A way to glorify God.
Serving Christ in My Clients
I feel closest to God when I work with my clients—because I see His image in each of them.
Every person I train carries their own struggles: injuries, body image wounds, self-doubt. And every session is an opportunity to remind them of the truth—they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
When someone comes to me feeling weak, I see the strength God is building in them. When someone struggles with self-worth, I remind them that their dignity doesn’t come from a number on the scale. When someone regains mobility after injury, I see the resurrection power of Christ at work in their body.
Fitness coaching, for me, is ministry. It’s my way of answering Christ’s call in Matthew 25—feeding the hungry (with better nutrition), strengthening the weak, lifting the discouraged. It’s a reminder that faith and fitness are not separate—they are both about transformation.
Bringing It All Together: Living Out Our Unique Call
Feeling close to God isn’t about one specific moment. It’s about how we live our calling. For me, that calling is clear:
- To receive Christ at Mass, so I can go out and serve
- To hear His voice in Scripture, so I can guide others in truth
- To love my daughter, so I can learn to love more like Him
- To care for my body, so I can be strong enough to fulfill my mission
- To serve my clients, so they can rebuild their own bodies and lives
This is what it means to Rebuild the Body—not just physically, but spiritually. To honor the gift of our bodies. To see Christ in those we serve. To use fitness, faith, and daily life as a means of drawing closer to God.
If you’ve ever wondered when you feel closest to God, consider this: It may not be just one moment, but a series of them. The way you show up for Mass, for your health, for your family, and for your work—these are all encounters with Christ.
So, I challenge you: Where do you feel closest to God? And how can you use that place to serve Him more fully?
Because when we rebuild our bodies, we’re not just strengthening muscles—we’re strengthening our ability to show up for Christ and for those He calls us to love.
