Earlier this week, I was led to a beautiful post by Glennon of Momastery about showing up exactly where we are. Doing this allows others the freedom of starting now instead of waiting until they arrive at complete success. I can’t even remember how I got there, but I was destined to read it, every word…
Frustration and the lethargy that follows it have taken over my life lately. I can’t believe my current weight loss plan, the Made to Crave study, is coming to an end and I have yet to lose a pound. I was certain I would get to the end of the six weeks with an amazing result and be a new spokesmodel for God and how turning to Him instead of food will change your life!
But thinking on the concept of helping others start now, wherever they are, has enlightened me. I’m not supposed to be finished. My job now is to share exactly where I am.
It is so easy to share my struggles of the past. The battles I won…
The hard part is letting you know the pain of today, the struggles I have not found victory over. It’s hard to share I spent the last two Saturdays in bed all day. It’s hard to share I not only didn’t lose weight over the past 6 weeks, I gained a few pounds. It’s hard to make a healthy choice today when I just want to literally lay around and eat bonbons, BUT…
One wise choice can lead to two, can lead to three, can lead to a thousand, can lead to the sweet place of utter dependence on God and lasting discipline.
~Lysa TerKeurst
This. This I believe. So I press on, just as we all must do.
Made to Crave is no longer a weight loss program for me. It is a lesson in choosing God to help me through my food issues, depression, and all the other demons I’m fighting right now.
Faith requires courage. Trusting God completely requires courage. Saying “I can” requires more courage than I can usually find.
Lysa goes on to share:
“I can is a powerful little twist for a girl feeling deprived. I can helps me walk into the dinner party of a friend and find the conversation more appealing than the buffet. I can helps me stay on the perimeter of the grocery store… I can reminds me no food will ever taste as sweet as victory does.”
I’m going after the sweet taste of victory. Although it seems far away, I refuse to give up. That is my courageous step for the day— not giving up. And showing up exactly where I am. So, there’s two steps… Go me!
If you are struggling with something today, don’t give up. Every courageous choice we make will lead us to victory…
Hi Candace, thanks for sharing honestly. I think we can all relate to those feelings of frustration regardless of whether our issue is food or not. “I can” doesn’t work for me. I can’t do anything – Christ has to do it for me. This is just the way I am. I have to surrender fully to Him for anything to get done well. I am the biggest self-sabotageur. That is hard to admit, even to myself, but I finally see the it’s only in Him that I can do anything.
What a great perspective, Laura! I can hasn’t been working for me either. I need to shift to knowing Christ will do it for me. Thank you for that reminder! I am terrible about sabotaging myself as well. It can be so frustrating.
Thank you so much for your post, Candace, I so needed to read it, as usual…I feel the same way…it is very hard to share your current struggles…it is easier to share the past victories…but the Lord has given us both and He is Lord over both moments and He wants to use both for the benefit of His beloved and to develop the character He is building in us. i wish you the best with the new series. It sure sounds like fun and I will be anxious to see the videos. I need to get out of my state of stagnation and sedentary living. Maybe this will be something for me!!! I’m looking forward to see your posts. Blessings!
I really hope it can help you too, Gisela! It seems like an interesting series. Our study starts this weekend. My life is incredibly sedentary as well. I’m really wanting to start walking every morning first thing and spending that time with God. What a wonderful way to start the day! If I could just turn my intentions into action :). Thanks for your always sweet encouragement!
Sometimes, even when no changes are apparent from the outside, great things are happening on the inside. You are capable of everything God has in store for you.
Thank you, LuAnn! I definitely feel changes happening inside which I know must occur first. I’m still hopeful for many new healthy habits to come my way :)!
Candace, you inspire me so!!! I too have not lost a single pound since we started this journey. I gain a pound, I lose a pound. It’s been that cycle for me for months. I am overweight, but can’t get over that hurdle of losing more than 1 pound. But this time around, I am feeling not as frustrated, not as angry, not as depressed. It’s the journey. This is the key. And you, my friend, are on your path with Jeus and will have success on that journey….no matter what that number says!!
We are going to do this together, Veronica! We have not given up and are still showing up every day in our fabulous group 7 :). I’m so thankful to be on this journey with you, my friend!
Candace, I am feeling you sister! I did great in the beginning but the past couple weeks have been a struggle. Not so much during the week but the weekends I am totally blowing it. I do not like this feeling of being defeated! So many times I think I wanna just give up & just eat whatever & whenever I feel like it. Is being thin worth it anyhow? Then I remember my Heavenly Father wants more than that for me & I need to make this about Him & my relationship with him. I want more than anything to crave Him more than anything this world has to offer. We can do this & I am so thankful God has placed you in my life because you are certainly an inspiration to me!
You inspire me as well, Tonya! The weekends can be so difficult. It is so frustrating with healthy eating because sometimes it feels like all the healthy choices through the week are undone by all the unhealthy choices on the weekend. That is not at all true though. Focus on all the good things you have done. The Action Plan is going to kick us into gear, my friend!
Hi Candace,
This morning I woke up extremely tired. Stayed up all night working – website, marketing materials, emails – before I knew it, it was time to wake the kids and get them ready for school. I am blessed to know that I am following the direction where God wants me to go, but there are still days that I am weary and question how our small team will ever be able to stand out among companies with multi-million dollar advertising budgets.
Then, I read your post. After shedding a tear or two, it reminds me about His awesomeness, how He will never forsake us and how He will supply our every need. Where two or more of us are gathered in His name, He will always show up and show out! (Well that’s not exactly what the scripture says but you know what I mean LOL).
I thank God for you, for your courage to share, for your gift of encouragement and for continuing to bless so many people through your writings – including me!
Can’t wait til next week – WE CAN DO THIS!!!
Thank you so much for your support, Kristy! I thank God for you as well! You stand out from the other companies for so many reasons- your heart and soul is in your product and that shines through. A friend just told me she ordered the DVDs today! I’m thrilled to be able to spread the word about your fun, faith-filled workout. I’m excited about the challenge to force me into moving. I’m not doing enough of that lately, and it does wonders for my moods!
I, too, have been doing the M2C OBS. I will continue on with the M2C Action Plan in hopes of really staying on track. I need to lose weight so my body will be healthy. Thank you for sharing your struggles. God Bless You. 🙂
Blessings to you Melissa! I think the Action Plan is really going to help us focus on healthy choices. I’m so glad we are doing it as the next study. I’m not ready to be done with Made to Crave, so it is the perfect follow-up for me. I hope to see you again!
I absolutely love your attitude and that quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. I can’t change what happened in the past, but I can ask God to be with me right this moment to help me make a better choice in the present. Praying you feel this tangible grace around you all day long.
I really appreciate your authenticity!
Thank you, Jen! I love that quote too, along with so many others of hers. I really appreciate your prayer, something we could always use more of :). The only place we can live is in the present, and like you said, God is always available to be right there beside us.
Candace, I could relate to SO much of what you spoke of here. That we are given a spirit of self-discipline is such a gift. That I must choose to USE it, is sometimes a burden I don’t want to bear. But what a small price to pay for deeper obedience! And that is the lesson I am walking away with, too. I pray God continues to enlighten you as to His greater desires for you as you keep moving forward – right where you are! Loved this, friend!
Missy (OBS Blog Hop Team)
I completely agree with you, Missy! Self-discipline is a beautiful gift that I struggle to use, but it makes all the difference in the world… Thank you for your prayer and support!
Hi Candace -Just love the look of your Blog, I’m trying to get one up myself. Loved your message on courage this is something I need not just daily but some times minute to minute. I’ve lived with a spirit of fear all my life. I’d let it become engrained. I know it’s not from God and these verses placed so pleasing to the eye were helpful. I made notes and copied the 2 Tim 1:7 just like it appears into my notebook. Thank you so much for the encouragement on being “Courageous” God Bless <3 I will be following you via Twitter and your blog. <3
Thank you, Loresa! I have had some fantastic designers help me with my blog. Lauren of Hey Hey Designs did my cartoon Candace and Tiffany Kuehl Designs did the header, button,… It’s so nice to meet you. Blogging is great, so therapeutic :). Let me know when you get yours up so I can visit. I’m so glad you will be following along on this journey with me!
Thank you Candace for sharing from you heart. One of the sentences in your writing says it all, “Made to Crave is no longer a weight loss program for me. It is a lesson in choosing God to help me through my food issues, depression, and all the other demons I’m fighting right now.” That is where I am at. One thing that I have learned is must be a life change not a diet that I am on for a period of time.
My biggest area of difficulty is exercise. I am going to check out the DVD you mentioned. I am a Special Ed. teacher. By the time I arrive home at night I am exhausted. Exercising is the last thing I want to do. When the weather warms up and some of the snow and ice are gone I hope to start walking
I will be holding you in prayer as we continue this journey together!
Thank you for the prayer and support, Linda! Exercise is one of my biggest obstacles too. I really don’t even have the excuse of not enough time. I just don’t do it. The DVD is fun, and I love that the music is faith-based. I’m looking forward to the challenge next week and I hope it becomes a daily habit for long after the 7 days end. Praying for you as well! I’m so glad to be on this journey with you!
Candace,
I pray that each day you are able to pinpoint at least one small victorious step towards a healthy lifestyle and that each day builds more and more momentum and encouragement on your journey with God.
What a beautiful, empowering prayer, Keri! Thank you! It is so true that every small choice helps to build the wonderful momentum that keeps us moving forward on our journey.
Pressing on and letting God lead the way is where our struggles meet God’s grace! So glad you were willing to share honestly and to encourage at the same time. Your verse from 2 Timothy reminded me of another verse from Timothy -7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7. We will continue to win this struggle because we will make the choice to walk with God each day and He will strengthen us in this journey. Blessings from your Cincinnati friend, Mary!
Hi Mary! I love what you said about “where our struggles meet God’s grace.” What a beautiful perspective! That is a great, inspiring verse from 2 Timothy you shared. It is a wonderful thing to strive for- finishing the race and keeping the faith :). Blessings to you, my friend!
Candace, we speak the same language I’ve not lost any weight either but, I have gained a sense of piece & the knowledge that He’s not done with me. I’m empowered to do better. Thank you.
It is a wonderful thing to know He is not finished with us, Stela. It takes a lot of pressure off! I’m so glad you have had a positive experience regardless of the lack of weight loss. Hopefully, that will come more with the Action Plan study :)!
Thanks for another great post, Candace. Truth is truth…so it’s always the right thing to share…even when it’s the hard thing to share!!!! Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHg4oAS4a_o. Prayers and God bless ~ Miriam
Thank you, Miriam! It has been very helpful to share and just put it all out there. That can be so relieving. Prayers and blessings to you as well!
Thank you for your blog post, I read it during a very dark day, getting to the end of this study I had a bad relapse with candy worse than it’s been for a long time and this was after having some victory. I was depressed felt defeated in every possible way and why do I even bother. Your post gave me hope and helped to lift my out of the deep pit I was in. I so got everything you shared. Thank you for your courage to share all that and press on. It certainly was used to encourage many! Shelly
I am thrilled to hear this helped you, Shelly! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know. This encourages me to keep sharing my story and experiences. Don’t let your candy relapse set you back. Keep moving forward! Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing. I’m still struggling a great deal with sugar, so I completely understand what you are dealing with. We can do this!
Thank you Candace for this encouragement. What a ministry we have as sisters in Jesus to hold each others’ arms up in battle like Aaron and Miriam did for Moses. So much of this past year has been up and down with recovering from my last pregnancy. If I had any idea how many times I’d be discouraged by the exact place where I’m at, I think I just would have said no to 32 all together. But He’s shown me that just because one block falls (I should note that my boys build a lot of Lego towers) doesn’t mean that the whole house has been destroyed. Maybe we fall down today, but not only are His mercies new everyday, I have to remember the times that He picked me up. It’s amazing to me how different all of our journeys look, but that the end result are all beautiful pictures of His creation.
Thank you for your encouragement, Elizabeth! I love your last statement– our journeys are all so different, but the endings “are all beautiful pictures of His creation”! I couldn’t agree more. Everyone has some blocks fall once in a while, but as you said, that is not the end. My house is filled with legos too :).
Hi Candace! I’m so with you on this…there have been quite a few days the past few weeks that I haven’t wanted to even get out of bed. If I didn’t have to drive my son to and from work, I probably wouldn’t have. I’m so glad you share…it is so nice to know I’m not alone in these struggles!
Hi Kim! I feel exactly the same! I have to get up every morning to take my son to school. I thank God for this! I’m not sure I would ever get going in the morning if I didn’t drive him every day. It’s always great to see you, my friend. You are definitely not alone!