Note: I wrote this article back in 2006, the year I started the Take Back Your Temple blog. This was 2 years after starting my own weight loss journey.
– Kim
Recently, I was trying on a pair of pants and happened to notice a horizontal black line running along my side, just above my hip bone.
For a brief moment, I wondered what it was and then it dawned on me; it was a patch of skin I hadn’t seen in years.
The fat that used to be around my waist caused the skin to bulge out and then fold over on itself.
But now that the fat was melting, the skin in that area was no longer bulging out and folding over.
I was seeing the skin that had been hiding underneath the fold.
Then I thought about how that was a metaphor for all of the emotional hiding I had been doing over the years.
So now it continually surprises me with new discoveries.
When I made a decision to no longer hide from life, then my body heard me.
It seemed to say, ”Well, if you aren’t going to hide from me, then I won’t hide from you anymore either.”
- How many times in the past had I tried to hide from my feelings by running to food as a refuge?
- How many times had I avoided revealing my opinions for fear of disapproval?
- How many times had I dodged opportunities because I was afraid of failure or success?
Too many times to count!
I’ll see a new patch of skin, or catch the ripple of a muscle when my leg moves a certain way, or feel my flexibility increase in ways I never thought it could.
Oh, it is exhilarating!
My hope is that you too will decide to face your fears and problems head-on, not hide from them.
If you do, you’ll find a whole new world is out there waiting for you – time to step into the brighter future God has for you!
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
– Jeremiah 29:11
Be Blessed in Health, Healing, and Wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author, The Take Back Your Temple program
P.S. For some of you, your weight issue may be just about finding the right diet or exercise program. There are plenty of good ones out there.
If that is all you need, then Take Back Your Temple is not for you. So you could stop reading right now.
I created Take Back Your Temple because I knew a solution was needed for someone like me, for whom the excess weight was not just about the diet or exercise program.
After all, I read all the diet books. I was a Registered Nurse for heaven’s sake! I knew how to eat healthy and exercise.
My problem was not being able to make myself do what I knew was right. This was a Spiritual and emotional issue.
That is where I needed God’s help.
If you can relate that situation, then I urge you to check out the Take Back Your Temple program. You will discover others who can relate to the struggle – and are committed to overcoming together!
Love this! /sg
Thanks for the feedback, Shana!
I’m struggling now, since I’d retire my job surprise me. My church family surprise me, my neighbor surprise me. My grandchildren really surprise me, so I’m struggling but I still do my walk. I know we may fall down but we get back up. I’m not giving up.
Amen, Renee! Great job on sustaining your walk. Each day, we have a fresh opportunity to do something different with our lives – to write a new story. I pray today the Lord give you wisdom for 1 new thing you can do to help you feel and function your best today and every day 🙂
Hi
Kimberly
I can sooo relate to your post on hiding with food and binging! I did it for yrs!
I was a bulimic till Yeshua! Delivered me from it! I still! at times restless with certain foods and temptations! But! praise Yeshua! He brings me back where I belong! I know and believe! I am free from the bondage of food addiction!
Mary Joy!
Thank you for your help! I finally officially joined you!
I lost 30lbs this year through prayer, your exhortations, & WW!
I’m looking forward to facing all my issues for the next 30lbs. Thank you again for doing this!!
Fantastic Carol – you are going to LOVE our community 🙂
Good for you!
Carol
I tend to eat alot for reasons of chronic pain in my body i dont know how to rid of it especially stomach pain but i dont want to waste my time doing things they are temporary fixes ive been eating more wholesome foods but do other things like nicotine addiction to rid my pain but does not help i have parasites and have pressure pain in my stomzch for 12 years i would like to do a cleanse but physically feel immobleand drained feeling all the time thankyou
Thank you, Kimberly, I believe that it’s time for me to stop hiding. A very timely article.
Blessings to you and Mike!
is there a search function to search your articles?
Hi Cheryl – Thanks for asking! Yes, there is a Search box at the bottom of the page.
I was thinking about the exhortation in Ephesians 6 to STAND. When we’ve done what God asked, we can just STAND. Stand for what we believe, Stand wearing the whole armor of God. Stand unashamed. And just be who we are, STANDING, trusting God is fighting this battle for, and through, us.
Amen, Mary Lou!