Mike Bell

Most of us don’t realize we’re being tested when it’s happening.

We think we’re just frustrated.
Confused.
Stuck in a season that almost makes sense.

A deal that was basically done… then fell apart.
Momentum that suddenly slowed.
Growth that came with a cost we didn’t expect.
That pressure to move faster — even when something inside says slow down.

It doesn’t feel spiritual.
It just feels inconvenient.

But over time, a pattern emerges.
Not in what’s being taken from you…
but in how tightly you’re being asked to hold what you already have.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

God rarely asks you to give up the thing.
He asks you to hold it loosely.

The test usually looks like:
• a delay that doesn’t make sense
• a deal that almost closes
• growth that costs more than expected
• a choice between speed and presence

The test isn’t “Will you let it go?”
It’s: “Do you need this to be okay?”

Open hands still build.
Closed fists protect.

And here’s the mercy in it all:

God isn’t trying to shrink your calling.
He’s protecting you from being crushed by it.

Because obedience is rarely dramatic.
It’s quiet.
Unimpressive.
And often unnoticed.

But it keeps your heart free.

And when the next door opens —
it opens clean.

🙏
“God, I don’t want this more than I want You.
Help me choose what keeps my heart free.”

My daughter and nephew Brody sold hot cocoa today to raise money for care packages for the homeless.

They raised $177 and are working toward a $400 goal by the end of the month. Ill be taking them down to hand them out

If you’re able to donate or share, it would mean the world to them ❤️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-gage-and-brodys-homeless-outreach/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_te&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_US&attribution_id=sl%3A3d1c6169-58c5-4f93-97d2-f7e9762ee76etr

🎉 New Aira Franchisees: Russell & Kathy — PUNTA GORDA, FL 🎉

Family… help me welcome Russell and Kathy, the newest owners stepping into the Aira mission.

Their story hit me hard.
They’ve been dreaming about opening a gym for over 25 years. They even tried going through another franchise, invested time and hope into it… and it fell apart.

Then they found Aira.

They told me, “This was a God-send… everything just felt right.”
And honestly, that’s exactly the kind of fit we pray for — people who have a heart for helping others and the courage to finally step into the vision they’ve carried for years.

What I love most is this:
They didn’t quit on the dream.
They just needed the right home for it.

I want to publicly honor them for taking this step — and for trusting us with something that’s been on their hearts for decades.

Drop a “WELCOME!” below 👇
Show them the love and support Aira is known for.

And if their story sparks something in you…
if you’ve had this dream in your heart but didn’t know how to take the first step…

Send me a DM.
Sometimes the only thing standing between where you are and where you’re called to be… is the right opportunity.

Welcome to the family, Russell & Kathy.
Punta Gorda is about to be changed. 🔥💙