“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.” Ecclessiates 3:1 AMP
What season of your life are you in?
My sweet friend, Laura, went through a difficult time in the past couple of years as her father was nearing the end of his life. It was a painful season for her of learning how to say goodbye. She experienced a flood of emotions which ranged from the joy of ushering him into the presence of his heavenly Father, to the sadness of not wanting him to go. I admired her attitude as she shared with me during the time she cared for him. “Even though I miss my normal life, I wouldn’t miss this detour for anything!” Could you respond like this during a difficult season in your life?
Understandably so, Laura’s weight was not her main priority during that season of her life. Granted, health is important, but we should be mindful that it’s a tool we use to allow us to enjoy other aspects of life–it should not be the final destination. We are not healthy for the sake of being healthy. We strive to be healthy so we can enjoy our life–whether it’s with ailing parents, our grandchildren, our spouses, or our friends. The healthier we are, the better we will be able to enjoy these experiences.
What’s your overall goal?
Weight loss in and of itself should never be our main goal. Don’t exercise and eat healthy just for the sake of doing it. Do it so you can to enjoy other aspects of your life. And, do it so you can glorify God.
When we make the mistake of allowing weight loss to become our main goal, we’re often disappointed because as soon as life throws us a curve ball and we are unable to maintain our routine, we get frustrated.
Getting back to exercising after a month of rest due to a back injury in the past would have been pretty disappointing to me if my main goal was exercise. As frustrating as the experience was for me to not exercise, I was not afraid that I would gain weight or never return to my workout routine. I finally understood that it’s simply a season in my life, and once this season ended, I will return to a life that involves more activity.
In these seasons of your life, continue to make the best food choices you can. Continue to make time to exercise, but don’t stress about it if you miss a workout. Enjoy your family and friends and be grateful for the gift of having them, and that you are healthy enough to enjoy them.
Is this your season to focus on your health?
If God has called you to make your health a priority in this season of your life, then do it! You may need to let other things go to make it happen. Understand the season and make the necessary sacrifices. It may mean that you might have to wake up a little bit earlier or spend less money shopping for clothes and other things so that you can spend more money on healthy food. You may need to give up TV so that you have time for exercise. Remember, it is for a season and it will prepare you for other things in your life. Your season may be preparing you to leave a legacy for your children, to inspire others, or to test your faith and draw closer to God.
“Remember the reason for your season will always bring glory to God.”
This mindset prepares you for the season like Laura experienced when you may be under a lot of stress. You may experience a season of illness or injury like I did. Or maybe you’re a new mom, or you’re called to return to school, travel, or take on a work project where you may not be able to make your health one of your main priorities. Know that it’s okay and that it’s normal. Once the season has passed, you will return to prioritizing your health without fear that you will lose it. Trust God that He has prepared you for this season and travel through it with strength and grace.
What season are you in? Is this your season to make your health a priority or is there something else that needs your focused time and attention. Whatever season you’re in, trust that God will equip you to manage it well.
I would love to hear from you.
P.S. if you are tired of circling the same mountain over and over and want a Christ-centered approach to lasting weight loss without feeling guilty, deprived, or overwhelmed, be sure to sign up for our video course program right away at cathymorenzie.com
16 Comments
I think this is my season to get focused on getting healthy. God has given me the strength to overcome a terrible caffeine addiction without feeling bad or having headaches. I have experienced a knee injury though the day I started exercising so I am trying to get that healed up but it is proving to be difficult. I pray God would reveal to me what I should be doing even it if it means to be less active for a time to allow it to heal.
Go for it Neisha. God is with you.
I found it interesting that I could read the post in 3 minutes, but only if I didn’t take time to meditate on the thoughts that came to mind, and to pray! I do feel that this is my season to continue my focus on releasing weight, as I have been slowly over the past 18 months. My relationship with God is being blessed, and my health is also blessed (recently did lots of walking on a trip to Uganda). I believe that God wants me to glorify Him by being a witness to my relationship with Him and to my desire to be healthy for Him. If He calls me to teach other women about Weight Loss God’s Way, whether online or in church, I will say “Yes” to that call , trusting Him to give me the time and to equip me.
Yes Ena !!!
This is my season to get healthy. I’m so glad I stepped out in faith and started your 21 Day Challenge back in January. God is blessing me in so many ways.
s, teachings. Never could have imagined that I would be involving God in my weight loss. Everything just fell in place one right after the other & I am so Very Cathy I do feel its my season to focus on my health & it started the day after Christmas in 2016. I use to smoke & I had a great urge that I believed was from
God to stop smoking & I did with his help. Then maybe 9 months after, that my dad who has followed an alkaline diet for years had finally convinced me to stop eating meat wanted me to follow the same diet…& I did. All these things I know without a shadow of a doubt had to be the creator urging me to eat healthier. I just felt it deep inside. You could not have told me 6 or even 3 months prior that I would ever give up eating meat, but I watched a show on Netflix called “What the Health”, which my dad told me to watch, & that was it for me. No more meat, dairy or soy. Then just like that, one day I was on my bible app, & I saw your 21 day weight loss Gods way plan & I started it, not knowing how deep it went. Didn’t know there would be others on FB, or there would be exercise videos, meal planThankful!! I am smoke free, & meatless today. So is this my season to get healthier….YES I BELIEVE IT IS & GOD IS LEADING THE WAY!!!
It is definitely your season Nicole, honoured to be walking this journey with you.
This is my season to focus on health. I got so busy raising kids, I didn’t know how to manage my health in there. Now it’s time. I loved your article on your friend. My Papa went home to heaven last Christmas, and it was a difficult season. But this year has been a healing one as I finally learned how to grieve with God instead of without Him. I’m so thankful for God’s strength in our lives (Is 40), and His tender mercies that are new EVERY MORNING
Cathy, I had always been active. Til last year. I had a heat stroke.went into hypothermia. Temperature went down to 38.6. God had mercy on me. Since then i have put on 50 pounds. I have a fear of getting over heated.I know today is the day. I do believe it is my season. I give myself to helping everyone else. And don’t take time for myself. I am asking God to help me search myself for truth about me. Be blessed, and thanks for encourging me to join Breakthrough.
Hi Elisabeth,
You fear is understandable. Keep on turning your fear over to God. The same God of mercy that saved your life is the same God that wants you to live in peace, health and freedom.
This IS your season.
Laura I feel your aniety, fear and struggle to maintain and will keep in in prayer. I am in my Summer of Discontent for I am progressing and standing still. Wondering about the future and reflecting on my past. It is an inbetween time never really sad nor overly happy more a slow steady calm with undercurrents of nervous energy. True be told I am scared feeling I should be much futher in my life and also knowing I have come far from where I use to be. That being said; the old habits have culturvated new ways of acting out. I am asking God to help me make sense of it all.
Gwen, I hear you. Focus on your progress and don’t worry about anything else. Feeling you should be much farther along or worrying about the future puts you in a space of fear instead of faith. Use your faith to keep you moving forward each day. God’s got it!
Cathy, it is a season for me to focus on my health. I have a new grand baby and it would be a lot harder to care for her if I had the 60+ pounds on me I was carting around. I am dealing with my spouse getting older. There is 18 years difference between us. He is going to need me to be at my best to care for him. And most important is that God is calling me to be healthy for Him. I am not sure His plans for me but I know He never will let me go.
You’ve got lots of reason to remain in good health Janet. Congratulations on your weight release success! Keep up the great work!
Thank you Cathy for pointing out that people have different seasons they go through and based on what season of life they’re in will determine where their priorities must be. I am very pleased that I am in a season where I can focus on my health. Thank you for your guidance, enlightenment, and encouragement through this season I am going through.
You’re most welcome Mary. I find that we put so much pressure on ourselves unnecessarily. Yes, we should make time for our health everyday but there will be seasons where we’re pushing hard and seasons where we’re just not able to. So glad you know your season. Keep up the great work!
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