My Honest Experience With the Virtual Jesus Challenge: Expectations Vs. Reality Part 1

Have you ever wondered what the virtual Jesus challenge is ACTUALLY like in real life? Like in the day-to-day grind, behind the marketing? How do real, busy people do this?? 🤔

🚨 None of us want to waste money or time on something that isn’t worth it. 

“Do I really have time for this?” 

“Do I have the mental capacity for this?” 

“What if it’s harder than it looks?” 

Those are legit questions, and I had them too. 

So… 🥁🥁🥁

So I took the leap FOR you! 

For the past 40 days, I (Melanie, copywriter for the Forty Forty Challenge) participated in the New Years challenge! 🎉 I carefully documented every part of my experience so I could share real, honest feedback and you’ll know exactly what to expect going into it. 

This blog is the first in a three-part series where I’ll share my raw, unfiltered experience with the Jesus challenge. 

1️⃣ In Part 1 (this post), we’ll tackle the biggest entry fears: 

• Time commitment

• Physical effort 

• Mental load 

• Weather concerns 

2️⃣ In Part 2, we’ll talk about what happens after you start: 

• Falling behind 

• The accountability group 

• Long-term sustainability 

• And the HARDEST part of the challenge 

3️⃣ And in Part 3, I’ll share the real-life, honest emotional, spiritual, and physical impact after 40 days. 

Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, here’s what the virtual Jesus challenge consists of: 

• A 40-day commitment 

• Walk or run 1 mile every day 

• Read a pre-assigned passage of Scripture every day 

• Participate in optional daily challenges to further deepen your faith 

• Gain access to a Facebook accountability group for support 

Ok, let’s jump into it with one of the biggest questions about the challenge: will it require too much time? 👇

1.) Time Commitment 

Expectation: 

The biggest fear before starting something new is usually, “Do I really have time for this??” 

I thought the exact same thing. 

My days are very full, with good things, but full nonetheless. There’s rarely a minute unspoken for, and my world feels pretty messy and chaotic day-to-day. If that sounds familiar, you’re my people! 🫣

Because of that, I’m careful with my “yeses.” I wanted to know, would the Jesus virtual challenge actually be a worthwhile yes, or just another thing competing for already-limited time? 

Going into it, I fully expected it to take between 30 minutes to an hour every day. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to fit that in consistently. 😅

Reality: 

• How much time did it actually take? 

15-20 minutes per day. That’s it. 

15 minutes on regular days, 20 minutes on days when I felt tired or had to navigate fresh snow. I didn’t rush or powerwalk either. I walked at a moderate pace, and my hilly neighborhood kept me from racing through it. 😉

• Where does that time come from in real life? 

This is the part that surprised me most! Once I realized that it only took 15 minutes, the pressure to make time appear out of nowhere evaporated. 🥹

Instead of creating a big, dramatic schedule overhaul, I actually found 15 minutes pretty easily: 

• • Waking up 15 minutes earlier (not that big of an ask) 

  • Using the few minutes before I got ready for bed in the evening 

  • Swapping a social media scroll or TV show for a walk 

👉 Even on full, busy days it did NOT feel invasive or overwhelming to my full life. 

• Does that 15 minutes include everything? 

Yes, and that was a huge relief.  That short window covered: 

• • The walk 

  • The entire Scripture reading 

  • Prayer 

  • Many daily reflections or challenges 

I didn’t find any extra “homework” or additional time demands layered on later. 

• How the walk actually flowed: 

Here’s a simple routine I followed on most of my walks: 

• • First few minutes: quiet my mind and hand my worries/cares over to the Lord 

  • Then: listen to the day’s Scripture on the YouVersion Bible app 

  • Remaining time: reflect, pray, or start the daily challenge 

As a slow auditory learner, I even slowed the audio speed to 0.75, and I still finished with extra time at the end of my walk. 🙌

• What about the daily challenges? 

A few of the challenges required time and activity beyond the walk, like bringing a friend a coffee or setting alarms to pray throughout the day. If I didn’t have time to do it on my walk, I modified the challenge of the day to fit into spare moments between real life constraints. (And I never regretted doing it!) 

• What about sick days or travel? 

This was a big question for me, and I’m sure it is for you, too. 

• • Sick days: Sometimes I only walked to the mailbox and back, but I ALWAYS felt noticeably better after fresh air. 😌

  • Travel days: I walked in airports or in hotel gyms. 

I never felt behind or “punished” for low-energy or exhausting days. It’s a real part of life, and the virtual Jesus challenge fully accounts for that. 

2.) Physical Effort 

Expectation: 

When most of us hear “walk or run a mile every day for 40 days,” our brains jump straight to effort. 

I’ve never done a 40-day walking challenge like this before, so I expected:

• Sweating 

• Pushing myself hard 

• Feeling tired or sore afterward 

• Having to “dig deep” to get it done 

Reality: 

• How hard was the physical effort? 

This was another big shocker to me! 

Instead of draining me, the daily mile became the MOST rejuvenating and life-giving part of my day. No joke! 

Even when I had to huff and puff up hills, I never ONCE felt depleted. I finished every walk feeling: 

• • Warm and strong in my body 

  • Mentally clear and alert 

  • VASTLY more energized than when I started

Many times, I kept right on walking after one mile because I did not want to stop and felt that good! 😂

• What about different fitness levels? 

The Jesus challenge gives you a few different options for daily movement: 

• • Walk 1 mile at YOUR pace 

  • Run 1 mile if you enjoy speed 

  • Complete 20 minutes of low-impact cardio (bike, row, etc.) 

I tried all three to get the full experience. Walking was definitely the gentlest and most sustainable, and running was very invigorating. One mile was short enough that I never finished exhausted, only rejuvenated and ready to tackle my day. I swapped in 20 minutes of cardio on icy days and really enjoyed the change up in routine. 

At the end of the day, it comes down to this: what is the best way to sustainably steward your unique body for God’s glory? 

• What’s the best mental mindset for this physical effort? 

After noticing how much I enjoyed the walks, I realized that the Jesus virtual challenge never demanded us to “push” our bodies in the first place. 

Instead, it invites us into loving stewardship of the Spirit’s dwelling place: our bodies. I was pretty mindblown to realize that it can be done so gently and lovingly instead of killing myself in the gym. 🥵

3.) Mental Load 

Expectation: 

“Will this add another stressor to my already overloaded day?” 

This is SUCH a real and fair question that’s crossed all of our minds. Most of us are already running on fumes, and another commitment could be the final straw. 

Going into it, I honestly did expect that the Jesus virtual challenge would be another stressor in my day, taking up my last, barely-surviving brain cell. 🥴

Reality: 

• How much mental effort is required? 

Once again, I was completely astounded by the reality. 

The virtual Jesus challenge required NOTHING of me. 🤯

The relief of this truth still brings tears to my eyes. I don’t need to bring a THING to the Lord. All I need to bring is myself. 

Grumpy. 

Crying. 

Disappointed. 

Stressed. 

Anxious. 

Sad. 

Overwhelmed. 

Whatever the honest version of myself is, THAT is all He wants. And that’s all I had to give most days. 🤷🏻

On days when I rolled out of bed all groggy, I brought nothing to the table. 

On days when my brain was fried, I brought nothing to the table. 

On days when my brain felt clear, I brought nothing to the table. 

And then it got better. Instead of using up mental energy, God RESTORED it. 🌱

I received. I received, and received some more. As I spent time listening to God’s Word and voice, everything quieted down: 

• • The cloudy brain 

  • The worries 

  • The stress of decisions 

  • Insecurity 

  • Grief 

And the amazing thing is, you don’t have to try. You don’t have to change your own mind. You just show up messy, tired, and distracted, and receive. That’s it! 🥹

So long story short: ZERO mental effort required. Just come as you are, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. God renews your mind and heart as you just listen to Him and sit in His presence. 

**NOTE: I wouldn't have believed someone who told me this, but now I’ve lived it. So believe me, this is the true reality of our generous, all-sufficient Father! 

• Does it require planning or prep? 

Not a bit. Rachel and Andrew do an amazing job of providing everything you could need and MORE. It’s all laid out for you: 

• • Pre-assigned Scripture passages so you don’t have to wonder where to start 

  • A daily checklist to track your progress 

  • Automatic entry to the Facebook accountability group so you have a support system right on your phone 

  • A comprehensive pamphlet answering questions as they come up 

• Is it mentally draining? 

Not even a little. It was 100% the opposite. 

As I mentioned above, I brought zero mental capacity to the table. But I didn’t LEAVE the table with zero mental capacity. 

Every 👏 single 👏 time 👏I finished my walk with a refilled mental tank. 

More than any social media scrolling. 

More than a nap. 

More than coffee. 

More than a TV show. 

My ring doorbell shows two very different people leaving and returning: 😆

1. 1. One leaving the house pretty depleted, frustrated, and stressed. 

   2. Another returning with pep in her step, singing, peaceful, energized, and full of new creativity and ideas. 

If you need a mentally rejuvenating habit, THIS IS THE ONE. The combination of: 

• • Fresh air 

  • Sunshine 

  • Getting AWAY from your worries

  • Moving your body 

  • Immersing yourself in God’s Word 

… is like balm to your brain. It’s exactly what you need. 

After experiencing this immense mental relief, I love going on walks even multiple times a day now. 😍

4.) Weather Concerns 

Expectation: 

If you’re anything like me, this question probably pops up in your mind fast: “What happens when the weather’s awful?” 

Cold. Ice. Snow. Wind. Darkness. 🥶

I don’t blame you for having this concern, especially during the coldest months of the year. 

I fully expected weather to be a difficult part of the Jesus virtual challenge. I assumed there would be days where going outside would be inconvenient and just plain miserable.

Reality: 

• What happens during bad weather? 

Weather never became a barrier to walking, all it required was flexibility. 

Yes, we had a snowstorm. Yes, there were days the roads weren’t safe to drive. And no, the virtual Jesus challenge does not expect you to be reckless or extreme. 🙅🏻

It DOES invite you to adapt and trust the Lord. 

On snowy days, I bundled up and went outside anyway, even if only for a few minutes. Instead of feeling miserable like I expected, the fresh air was a relief after being cooped up indoors! I ended up staying out much longer than I expected. 🤩

Now if you’re reading this and thinking, “I’m just not built for winter walks,” here’s some reassurance for you. 

You are not required to walk outside no matter what. 👇

If weather makes it unsafe or unpredictable, indoor movement is always an option. A treadmill, track, cardio, or even walking laps in your home counts. Remember, the goal is movement, not proving toughness. 

Your Turn: Will You Join the Virtual Jesus Challenge? 

If you’ve been on the fence about committing, I hope this honest, behind-the-scenes look answered the questions you’ve wondered. 

I learned from experience that we tend to blow it up into such a huge thing in our minds, like an unattainable mountain top. I certainly did before I joined! The reality is that it’s insanely easy. It’s just one mile today. It’s one click. 

And on top of that, you don’t have to show up with ANYTHING. Not motivation, not energy, not even a good attitude! 😅

It’s not a high-pressure fitness program or another to-do to make you feel guilty. It’s just a very simple, but astonishingly powerful tool to expose your soul to God’s Word. 

If you’re hungry for: 

• A clear mind 

• A peaceful, grateful outlook on life 

• A way to reconnect with God without adding more to your plate 

…this is exactly what you’ve been looking for. 😊

If it worked for me, in my full, messy, packed life, I’m fully confident it will work for you too! 

Take that small step of obedience. Sign up for the Jesus virtual challenge below. We’ll be with you every step of the way! 

Claim My Spot 

💌 P.S. Don’t forget to look out for Parts Two and Three of my honest, documented experience with the Jesus challenge, coming out in the next few weeks! We’ll look at more logistical/practical questions and break down the real-world impact the challenge has on emotional, spiritual, and physical health.