Ever been unhappy about a situation, but it persisted anyway?
Reaching your "Enough is enough!" point makes all the difference in making permanent change.
Let me explain.
A couple of years ago, I received an email from a lady who had not reached her "Enough is enough" point yet.
She wrote:
I still have a great problem with my weight. Suffering from hypothyroid and high blood pressure. I need to do something, but I am too busy."
"I am too busy" was the clue that "Enough is enough!" was not there.
Whatever was making her "too busy" was more important to her at that time than dealing with her weight, high blood pressure, and hypothyroidism.
I define ' Enough is enough meaning' as an unwillingness to keep tolerating an intolerable situation - enough to take consistent action to change it!
Many years ago, I reached that point concerning my health. I decided that 'I am enough' to change. But more about that later.
A Biblical Example of Enough is Enough
An example of someone in the Bible who finally reaches their "Enough!" point is that of Pharaoh and the frogs in Exodus 8:1-15.
The plague of frogs was one of 10 plagues God sent against Egypt to get Pharaoh to release His people from slavery.
God made frogs come out of the river to cover Egypt. Frogs came into the Egyptians' homes, their bedrooms, on their beds, into their ovens, their kneading bowls and even covered the people.
Ewww!
Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron to him, requesting that they ask the Lord to take the frogs away. Moses asked Pharaoh when he should intercede for him.
Guess what Pharaoh said? Tomorrow!
See? Pharaoh had not had his fill of frogs, so he was willing to live with them another day.
He had not reached his "Enough!"
I can tell you the exact date I reached my "Enough!" point regarding my weight. It was December 11, 2003.
I was 240 pounds. Although I was unhappy about weighing that much, I was willing to live with it.
Maintaining my current lifestyle habits was more important to me than dealing with my weight at the time.
I wasn't willing to change what I ate, nor was I willing to exercise permanently.
But then that chest pain hit me. I was only 38 years-old and in that moment, I thought I was going to die. That was "Enough!" for me.
I valued my life.
When God said "It is not supposed to be this way" in the midst of that pain, I grabbed onto the hope He offered me like a lifeline. I had a doctor's appointment card and I wrote on the back of it: "Today is the day I turn my life around."
Pain was what it finally took for Pharaoh to change too. The frogs were only plague #2. It took him getting to #10 that did it.
Here is a recap of all the pain he endured before and after that. Pharaoh was not only hard-hearted, but hardheaded!
1. Water to Blood - Not Enough
2. Frogs - Not Enough
3. Lice - Not Enough
4. Flies - Not Enough
5. Livestock Diseased - Not Enough
6. Boils - Not Enough
7. Thunder and Hail - Not Enough
8. Locusts - Not Enough
9. Darkness - Not Enough
10. Death of His Firstborn Son - Enough!
It was only when the plague hit something Pharaoh cared about, that he valued, that he reached "Enough!" The sign of his "Enough!" was taking action; he finally let God's people go!
Uncovering your 'Enough!' Point
Regarding your current health habits, are you happy with the results they are bringing into your life? If not, then make a list of all the negative consequences you are enduring because of them currently.
Then write by each item on your list either "Not Enough" or "Enough!"
Only the ones you judge "Enough!" are strong enough to motivate you to change for good. They are the only ones strong enough to help you endure when challenges come.
I have discovered that if you have a strong, heart-felt "Enough!" (your 'why am I doing this' answer), then you are willing take consistent action to succeed, in spite of challenges along the way.
So ask yourself, "Have I reached my "Enough!" yet?"
Original post date, October 17, 2017; Revised November 12, 2022