What?! I actually gained weight this past week? That’s crazy. I’ve followed my Weight Watchers® PointsPlus Plan faithfully every single day. I even had a few points left over at the end of the week.
Discouraged
Deep sigh. I was looking forward to stepping on the scale this morning so that I could feast my eyes on the results of my obedience and hard work only to discover that I had gained a pound. Clearly the scale was malfunctioning. I stepped off and on again. And again. The news didn’t change.
“This is not fair. I’ve worked so hard. Why do I even bother? Obviously, this weight loss thing works for other people but not for me. What’s the point? I might as well eat cake. In fact, maybe I’ll go to the kitchen right now and have a great, big…”
I stop.
Pause.
Take a deep breath.
Listen more carefully to the barrage of thoughts rushing through my mind.
The Voice
I’ve heard these thoughts before. A lot. I recognize the voice. It’s loud, driving and condemning. It suggests quick fixes and solutions that work from the outside in. Listening to this voice leads to anger, worry, discouragement, hopelessness and more.
I slow down.
Pray.
Dial in deeper.
This is what I hear now.
His Voice
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are mine. I love you. You have obeyed. You’ve demonstrated great faith and self-control. The moon, the stars and the needle on the scale are all in My hands. In due time, if you do not grow weary you WILL reap what you have sown. In the meantime, keep your hand on the plow, stay on the plan and cultivate faithfulness. Be pleased with what you have done. I am pleased with you.”
I cry.
He loves me.
I breathe another deep sigh; this time it is a sigh of relief.
The Results
Jesus’ voice is quiet, hopeful and truthful. He gives mercy and reminds me that transformation occurs slowly from the inside out. Listening to His voice leads to love, joy, peace, increased faith and more.
I still wish I had lost a pound instead of gaining one. Who wouldn’t? But I am reminded that I am not in this for the weight loss but for the God gain. He is worth it. He will see me through.
So, I am buckling in for another week of obedience and seeking to satisfy my deepest desire with God, not food.
Jump Right In
To increase accountability and encourage others PLEASE take a minute to comment below: introduce yourself, share your successes or struggles, add your food list or simply say ‘hi.’
The journey to change will be more successful if you walk it with others.
What About You?
How has your healthy eating plan been going? How do you distinguish the voice of God from the voice of the enemy?
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leave a comment here.
Made to Crave ~ Index to Previous Posts
It is ridiculous how the number on a scale can deflate me. I have done very well with making changes in my diet, been feeling better, then i get on the scale and Im up 4lbs and feeling so discouraged i want to run and buy oreos and eat them all with a big glass of whole milk! lol
Im trying to be rational, water weight? Muscle since Im walking and more active? I also have to take this slow, let God work on my heart one moment at a time. And I do need Him to work on me because the desire to eat those feelings comes on strong sometimes still.
I don’t know what I think this morning! Reading the chapter about obedience but I’m not sure what I’m being obedient to. What does God really want from me with reference to my eating? Is it following a certain plan, not eating when I’m not hungry, and/or not eating for emotional reasons.
I am eating less junk, am eating less emotionally…but I still eat some sugar….I realize I need to have more clarity on this otherwise I don’t have that “was I obedient” question to answer.
I was just reading back through my journal and wrote this last week….
Every time I use food for comfort/nurture etc., I deny God the opportunity to meet my needs in a way that he would choose. I’m probably missing out on a lot God has for me by doing this. Every time I use food that way I am telling God “I’ve got this” and that I don’t need him.
Maybe that’s the bottom line for me… ??
Oh, Lucinda, that is SO powerful! Thank you for sharing what you wrote — I think that is the bottom line for all of us. I know it is for me. The part that resonated with me was “I deny God the opportunity to meet my needs in a way he would choose.” If He delights to do that, and I deny Him the opportunity… what’s the opposite of delight? Disappointment?
I don’t want to be satisfied with less than what God has for me, and I do want to experience His delight in meeting my needs.
Thanks so much for this study. I am really enjoying it.
Wow, this post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’m struggling with not seeing results as fast as I think I “deserve,” and becoming discouraged. “Why bother?” is indeed running rampant in my head along with severe cravings for ice cream.
All of your comments and input from your own journeys is more helpful than you can imagine. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks, Joyous. I am also so thankful that you all are taking this journey with me. I really think that if I were doing this alone I would have made some lame excuses and given up weeks ago.
I am so blessed to have you along for this wild adventure leading us closer to God!
Just thought I would mention…a few weeks ago (before we started this study) I weighed myself at the gym and was certain that it was “off” and that’s why my weight was up. I was so insistent that the employee took some dumbbells and weighed them on the scale to check it out. Seems the scale was accurate. I hated that!
I am so sorry friends that I have not been as faithful to this group that I had hoped and so desperatly needed. With 3 kids home this summer and all the activies (including VBS where I helped out), I just haven’t made it online much the past couple of weeks. So please forgive me. I have been praying for all of you, and I ask desperetly for your prayers right back. I am struggling to say the least.
Hi Lindsay ~ We missed you but it sounds like you’ve been keeping plenty busy :).
I will absolutely pray for you. And please stop by whenever you can.
Hi
Have enjoyed following along..
We can’t focus on the scale when we have started to exercise more. As I have worked out over the years I noticed that the scale did not necessarily change, but understand that muscle weighs more than fat. What I did notice is that I did not get tired as quickly and my heart rate has decreased.
“We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Hi Ahna ~ You are so encouraging. I do have a lot more energy and that is a wonderful feeling. Hopefully, my muscles are getting built up as well.
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Beautiful words. Thank you for encouraging us. It seems so funny to me that we have to be reminded of what Jesus’ voice sounds like, but we do. We’ve lived with the voice of condemnation for so long that we automatically put those words in God’s mouth. But God is not like that.
He is so gracious, isn’t He? I just love the sound of His voice.