After ten years, I can finally say with confidence that I am a lifetime member of “Reshaping it All.” Being a lifetime member doesn’t mean that I’m so tiny I slip back into my high school jeans, nor does it mean that I don’t struggle with the desire to eat more often than I should. What it does mean to me is that I have been walking this journey day after day, year after year for over a decade.
I’m averaged-sized, and while I’d love to be micro-mini-sized, so I’d look adorable in baby doll dresses and swimsuits, I’m not. I walk and I fall; I lose and I gain. Three steps forward—two steps back. But slowly and surely I’m getting there.
I wear a size 7 pants, but if I shop at the “generous” clothing stores that stroke my ego with rock bottom numbers, I might squeeze into a size 4.
I haven’t always been this way. I wore plus-sized clothing in my mid-twenties through to my early-thirties, but I’ve come a long way, and I’m not going back!
One day as I was reaching into the fridge for some strawberries, a revelation came to mind. It was then—during that moment of choice—that I realized a key factor which has kept me from gaining back all the weight.
I had tried diets before. I had joined reputable groups. I had practiced things that I’ve learned. But the one ingredient I had been missing was this: persistence.
When you combine persistence with the grace of God, you become a dynamic living force. It’s as simple as that. Stop giving up when the going gets tough, and for once in your life, make it happen. This lesson in persistence is one to be applied to every area of our lives whether it be healthy eating, working out our marriage or trusting the Lord through a trial.
Next time you feel a hint of discouragement dragging you down, remember Bartimaeus the blind man who sat by the side of the road. The Bible tells us that many rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but instead of heading their voice, he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The result of his persistence was the restoration of his sight. (Mark 10:46-52)
And look at Zacchaeus—a wee little man with great persistence. The Bible tells us that he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. His determination resulted in a personal visit from Him that day. Can you imagine? We get excited about winning a celebrity lunch date, but this little guy had the Messiah over to his house for tea. Well maybe coffee–who knows for sure.
Then in Mark chapter five we read about a woman with a 12-year issue of blood who pressed through the crowd just to touch the hem of His garment, and immediately she was healed.
Anyone of these people could have given up when the going got tough, but they chose to persist, and in doing so reaped the benefits that perseverance has to offer.
We can only imagine the opportunities that we’ve lost over the course of our lifetime because we gave up just before sunrise.
Ever have one of those weeks where the plateau gets you so low that you give up all together? Have you ever wondered what might have happened if you would have waited one more week? My guess is that the scale would have moved.
And what about those nights when you get so down on yourself because you made a mistake. Have you ever thrown the plan out the window because you didn’t meet your own high level of expectation? We’re not created to be perfect—we’re created to press on:
Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect: but I follow after,
if that I may apprehend that for which also
I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 3:12
Stick with it! If it’s been dark for a while, have hope—it could possibly be the last hour of the night. Don’t fall asleep now, and miss the breathtaking sunrise.
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene
For comments or questions, contact me at:
darlene@darleneschacht.net
(This post contains affil links)
If you like this post, you’ll love the new book I recently co-authored with actress Candace Cameron Bure. “Reshaping it All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness.”
Bure’s healthy lifestyle has been featured in US Weekly and People magazines as well as national talk shows including The View and NBC’s Today. In Reshaping It All, she continues the story, inspiring women to embrace a healthier lifestyle by moving faith to the forefront, making wise choices, and finding their worth in the eyes of God. Candace shares a candid account of her struggle with food and ultimately her healthy outlook on weight despite the toothpick-thin expectations of Hollywood.
More than a testimony, here is a motivational tool that will put readers on the right track and keep them there. In addition to practical advice, Candace offers a biblical perspective on appetite and self control that provides encouragement to women, guiding them toward freedom. (click the cover to order from Amazon)