What 75 Hard Is Teaching Me About Faith, Discipline, and Not Doing It Alone

I’m currently on Day 24 of the 75 Hard Challenge, and it’s been challenging, encouraging, and, honestly, the most stretching thing I’ve done in a while.

If you’ve never heard of it, 75 Hard is a mental toughness challenge that includes working out twice a day, drinking a gallon of water, reading 10 pages of a non-fiction book, following a meal plan of your choice, and taking a daily progress photo—for 75 days straight.

I started this challenge because I was craving more discipline and consistency in my life, and as I took inventory of the things holding me back across the board, discipline and consistency kept coming up as things that I needed to work on. So, while this challenge is a physical one, I knew going into it that if I could build discipline and consistency in one area, I’d start to see it show up in other areas of my life, too. 24 days in, I'm seeing it already!

The Power of Community

One of the biggest things that has helped me stick with this challenge so far has been doing it in community. If I was doing it alone, I honestly don’t think I would’ve made it this far, but having people to share the journey with has made a huge difference. Whether it’s talking about how sore we are, encouraging each other to get that second workout in, or just checking in with each other on frustrations we're feeling along the way, having people on the same journey as me to check in with has added a layer of motivation that has kept me going.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this can be applied to our faith journeys too. It takes discipline and consistency to intentionally nurture our relationship with God, read our Bibles when we don’t feel like it, or pray even if it feels like God is silent. That kind of consistency in our faith walk doesn’t just happen, it’s something we have to build and develop over time.

But here’s the thing: it’s a lot easier to stay consistent when you’re not doing it alone.

I think we underestimate the role of community in helping us grow in our relationship with God. Seeing the impact community has had on my ability to be disciplined and consistent with 75 Hard, has made me realize that community is not optional in our walks with God, it's essential.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

What would happen if we asked our friends to hold us accountable for reading our Bibles and praying every day?

What if we were more open and honest about our struggles and sought help in Christian community?

What if we were more intentional about surrounding ourselves with other Christians on fire for God and just as hungry as we are to grow?

Can you imagine how much more we would grow in our walk with God?

I can...and honestly, I want that.

I want to be more intentional about inviting people into my spiritual life the same way I’ve invited them into this challenge. It's not easy, I know. Inviting people into something so personal as your walk with God requires a level of vulnerability that can be scary. And yet, it's so worth it.

It’s worth it to feel seen in your journey.

It’s worth it to have someone speak truth over you when the enemy is feeding you lies.

It’s worth it to be surrounded by people who will pray for you, challenge you, and remind you of who you are when your faith feels shaky.

We weren’t meant to do this alone; God designed us for community—the kind that builds us up, strengthens us, and calls us higher. So if you've been walking with God quietly and privately for a while, this is your invitation to open up a little bit more. You can start small by texting a friend and opening up about something you would like them to pray with you about.

The more you open up, the more you'll realize that you're not crazy for struggling and that you're not the only one struggling in your walk with God. The people around you can help you stay the course—not just in a physical challenge like 75 Hard, but in the daily, ongoing pursuit of Jesus.