The Struggle and "The Time of My Life"
Struggle. What is it?
Struggle is definited by Merriam-Webster as “1: to make strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition <struggling with the problem> 2: to proceed with difficulty or with great effort <struggled through the high grass.”
Here’s the thing about struggle. We create a lot of it. We make things harder than they should be by our own personal choices. Sometimes, we think struggle comes because of the decisions of others. I beg to differ in most, not all, cases. Struggle comes because of OUR perception of the decisions of others. Those things have no right to cause us anxiety or frustration. Those things are equivalent to confusion and in God’s kingdom, there is no such thing.
Be clear. God’s will for our lives is that we reflect Christ. Christ had no evil in Him. He was, is and forever will be the greatest example of good that ever walked this earth. In His sacrifice, we have eternal life. Yes, bad things happen to good people. Trust me. I know firsthand. At the same time, I have comfort and joy in His promise.
Romans 8:37-39
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Struggle: Weight Loss
Here’s the thing. I had a personal struggle for years. I brought it on myself though. My struggle? Weight, of course. Yep. I said it. My struggle was with my weight and as a result, my self-esteem. I was fat, ugly, smelly… I was worthless and unwanted and “unwantable”. How in the world could someone love me if I didn’t love myself? I chose food. Food never looks down at me and it never tells me I’m below what the world sees as the standard. Well, I discovered that Jesus Christ loves me just the way I am. I began an improvement process. I started dressing better; taking better care of myself and living like I meant something to someone because I do! I mean everything to Him! As I reach my 41st year next month, I can confidently say that I am the best I have been in years. I have dropped a significant amount of weight. I am not quite where I want to be yet, but that will come. I have an incredible daughter, a wonderful family, a terrific church, an amazing job, a fantastic home and a fulfilling life. I no longer struggle with weight (or anything else for that matter). I have asked God to guide me down the right path and His plan works and is sure. I work out and I exercise. I made a few simple lifestyle changes and the weight is coming off as a result. Sure, I hit hurdles. Things happen. The trick is to keep the faith and the proper perspective and to soar OVER the hurdles rather than go THROUGH them! I am striving to be like Him in everything I am and do.
More on this later…
Here’s an amazing song written by the incomparable Regie Hamm that totally captures today’s point. For now, take heart! Live your joy! He has already overcome! Have the "Time of Your Life"!
::G::
Struggle is definited by Merriam-Webster as “1: to make strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition <struggling with the problem> 2: to proceed with difficulty or with great effort <struggled through the high grass.”
Here’s the thing about struggle. We create a lot of it. We make things harder than they should be by our own personal choices. Sometimes, we think struggle comes because of the decisions of others. I beg to differ in most, not all, cases. Struggle comes because of OUR perception of the decisions of others. Those things have no right to cause us anxiety or frustration. Those things are equivalent to confusion and in God’s kingdom, there is no such thing.
Be clear. God’s will for our lives is that we reflect Christ. Christ had no evil in Him. He was, is and forever will be the greatest example of good that ever walked this earth. In His sacrifice, we have eternal life. Yes, bad things happen to good people. Trust me. I know firsthand. At the same time, I have comfort and joy in His promise.
Romans 8:37-39
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Struggle: Weight Loss
Here’s the thing. I had a personal struggle for years. I brought it on myself though. My struggle? Weight, of course. Yep. I said it. My struggle was with my weight and as a result, my self-esteem. I was fat, ugly, smelly… I was worthless and unwanted and “unwantable”. How in the world could someone love me if I didn’t love myself? I chose food. Food never looks down at me and it never tells me I’m below what the world sees as the standard. Well, I discovered that Jesus Christ loves me just the way I am. I began an improvement process. I started dressing better; taking better care of myself and living like I meant something to someone because I do! I mean everything to Him! As I reach my 41st year next month, I can confidently say that I am the best I have been in years. I have dropped a significant amount of weight. I am not quite where I want to be yet, but that will come. I have an incredible daughter, a wonderful family, a terrific church, an amazing job, a fantastic home and a fulfilling life. I no longer struggle with weight (or anything else for that matter). I have asked God to guide me down the right path and His plan works and is sure. I work out and I exercise. I made a few simple lifestyle changes and the weight is coming off as a result. Sure, I hit hurdles. Things happen. The trick is to keep the faith and the proper perspective and to soar OVER the hurdles rather than go THROUGH them! I am striving to be like Him in everything I am and do.
Here’s an amazing song written by the incomparable Regie Hamm that totally captures today’s point. For now, take heart! Live your joy! He has already overcome! Have the "Time of Your Life"!
::G::
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