I woke up once with a weird thought about overcoming emotional eating and weight loss:
"The struggle is real, but the struggle is also right."
What? While we may not like that last part, it can help a lot if you are struggling right now.
Let me explain.
Recall an exciting movie you've seen recently.
Didn't it involve a heroine/hero's struggle at the story's core?
That's what kept you on the edge of your seat - wondering how the story would turn out!
After all, if everything were the same at the end of the movie as it was at the beginning, then what would be the point in watching it?
So struggle is right when it is in service to a righteous cause; love is our righteous cause.
We believe that we are on the side of what is good and right, even when it is challenging.
Because we believe in the cause, we are willing to endure hardship as a good soldier.
Ask yourself: Do you believe?
What is your transformation story? Consider:
- Where were you?
- What was your experience meeting Jesus?
- Where are you now?
- Who do you expect to become with God's help?
- What is your righteous cause?
- Who else will benefit when you overcome?
Remember your struggle is not the end; it is just a part of your transformation story.
The Real Meaning of Struggle
Have you ever considered what struggle really means? The definition of struggle is "a forceful effort to get free of restraint or resist attack."
If you are struggling, then you are in a good place. You are a warrior!
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are struggling against an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy us.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- Ephesians 6:12
Struggle is how we learn, grow, change and overcome.
In the case of overcoming emotional eating and weight loss, you are struggling to get free of old behaviors that may have left you overweight or unhealthy.
You are learning new daily behaviors necessary to live as a fit, healthy person - Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Struggle is a necessary part of the process.
Unfortunately, some people tell themselves "I am struggling" when the truth is - they are not struggling at all.
They are just giving in.
There is no resistance, no attempt to do anything different in how they live their daily lives.
And because they do not resist that which is destroying them, they do not change!
Viewing Struggle the Right Way
When you feel that your struggle is meaningless, you want to give up.
You think, ''What I am doing is not making any difference.''
However, that is a lie straight from the pit of hell!
The bedrock reason that you want to get and stay healthy is to be what God is calling you to be and do what God is calling you to do.
James 1:2-4 is a reminder of the benefits of viewing your struggle in the right way:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Not only is the struggle real and right, but it is also temporary.
Struggle will not last forever.
One of my favorite scriptures to remind me of that truth is 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Your goal is to outlast your struggle, to remain standing through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank God for the struggle because through through, you are being changed into the image of our dear Savior, from glory to glory and from faith to faith!