I hear this from time to time: “I am trying to do this differently. I am seeking God. But still,  I am NOT losing the weight.”

I can feel the frustration as if it were my own. I too am tempted to grab my bag of tools, jump into their lives and try and “figure it out.”

In truth, there could be many real physiological reasons why you aren’t losing the weight; hormone imbalance, fighting your own body’s natural set point, blown out adrenals, in simple terms…STRESS! I would bet my bottom dollar in most cases for people who are making better choices but still seem “stuck”, they are stressed. And one of those life stresses being that they are stuck in a physical body that won’t comply . But I would go even further to pose the idea that perhaps they are stuck in a moment with a body that recoils and self-protects when things are painful and pain filled.

We stress when we feel out of control. So our flesh response is to camp out in a cycle of self- provide and self- protect. Causing our bodies to do the same.

When stressed, we are not kind. We are not kind to ourselves and we are not kind to others. Or perhaps we are overly kind to others while repressing kindness towards ourselves – a deadly game of living with our pain behind a mask.

So yes…I’m sure there is something someone could DO to get physical answers for why they aren’t losing the weight. (Blood work, hormones checked…, etc) For example, our bodies endocrine system is super smart and acts like mission control for our metabolism. When stress occurs, it’s quick to build up our tolerance to stress by hoarding hormones meant to be freely released under peaceful conditions while releasing chemicals that help us with our fight or flight strategy. Perhaps some earthly wisdom from physicians and supplementation will help, but until our hearts learn to be at rest, even while in the middle of any nasty storm, we will never arrive at the peace we hunger for. 

Everyone is guilty of “navel-gazing”; being stuck in a moment of hurt. And the Lord is next to us, asking us if we want to be healed. Just like the 38-year-old man on the mat in John 5 who tried to give Jesus all his reasons why he is still layingon the ground, Jesus refuses to entertain his arguments by saying two simple words “Get up!”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. – John 5:7-9

When God speaks, movement happens.

To find the peace we are hungry for we must get honest about our unforgiveness, bitterness, regrets and dashed hopes we hold onto. Let’s turn to God and be healed. Without our hearts turning to Him first and most, we are all susceptible to the next 10 step program that promises to get us what we want or follow some fitness guru who says they know the way. May every way we take lead us closer to Jesus, The Way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

So back to the man or woman who is not losing the weight; getting medical answers as to why your body is not losing weight could certainly help by giving you some breathing room. Breathing room to turn and be healed. But from my experience, most people who get what they want in the physical realm rarely turn to God in a spiritual melting of their hearts and say “Thank you, God. Now take me and make me yours!” Most say “Thank you. Now that’s more like it. You, giving me what I want is all I have been asking for.” Deuteronomy 8 tells us so:

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. – Deuteronomy 8:11-14

Do not become prideful (hard-hearted towards God) about anything. Humility keeps us teachable and feeds our never ending hunger for the more of God. In the Kingdom, hunger is unlike that of the world. Our Godly hunger will be satisfied while leaving us with an insatiable hunger for more. Now that’s a metabolism!

A trip to the doctor could heal you, but only Jesus can make you whole.

To the person who is frustrated by their lack of progress, in great humility, may I ask you these questions:

• Are you angry at God?
• Are you disappointed with yourself?
• Are you tired of not getting what you want and work hard to achieve?

What good would it be for you to get the physical goal but not be made emotionally and spiritually whole? God, your Good Father,  loves you too much to give you what you want over what you need.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, – Romans 14:7

You say you want weight-loss and less jiggle when you wiggle but what you really want is for all the world wars in your life to cease. The wars between you and God. You and yourself. And you and others.

Righteousness, peace and joy is the goal. Not a number under your feet or a perfected reflection in the mirror.

Oh, the narrow road we walk. Few will find it. And even fewer will traverse through it, into the wilderness that sanctifies the soul.

This #motivationmonday I strongly urge you to listen to this 20-minute podcast titled “Go To War”. It’s for the person who feels stuck in a moment. This teaching will help you fight the right fight. Be ready to listen, learn and RESPOND!

His love.

Alisa