The Courage to Step Back

In the summer of 2021, Simone Biles stood at the top of the gymnastics world. She was the most decorated gymnast in history, the overwhelming favorite at the Tokyo Olympics. Then, mid-competition, she withdrew. She had developed what gymnasts call "the twisties" — a sudden loss of spatial awareness while spinning through the air at terrifying speeds. Her body no longer knew where it was.

The world debated. Some called it weakness. But Biles knew something the critics didn't: pushing through a broken body — or a broken mind — isn't always courage. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop.

She stepped away. She rested. She healed. And three years later, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles returned at twenty-seven — ancient by gymnastics standards — and won three gold medals and a silver, becoming the most decorated American Olympic gymnast of all time.

The Psalmist writes, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). Notice the order. God doesn't hand us a bandage and tell us to keep running. He heals first. He binds the wound. The restoration comes after the rest.

Some of you have been white-knuckling your way through pain, convinced that stopping means failing. But Jehovah Rapha — the God Who Heals — sometimes does His deepest work when we finally have the courage to step back and let Him.