Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
When taking the Thin Within journey to release weight, God will begin working on the inside of us before we see results on the outside. Does this mean that weight release can take time? Absolutely! However, this should not be discouraging. We should be encouraged because the change will be lasting, not temporary.
Philippians 1:6 states the following:
“Being confident of this very thing,
that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it
until the day of Jesus Christ.”
The work WILL be complete. If God started it, He will finish it. That is not to say that we will not make mistakes along the way. We will, but we know that God is still at work in us.
For years, I have tried numerous diet plans such as Weight Watchers, the low-carb plan, and even a tuna diet. Yuck! I lost lots of weight on Weight Watchers only to gain it back plus some. I lasted one day on the low-carb plan which should tell you what kind of food I prefer. The tuna diet was disgusting! I love tuna, but not by itself. It must have mayonnaise which was forbidden on the tuna diet. Frustrated, I began to eat more and more. Well, you know the rest.
The Holy Spirit began speaking to me about allowing the Lord to deal with the root of the problem. The problem, which was emotional, was on the inside of me. I still struggle with my emotions, and when I am not allowing God to work on the inside, my emotions rule. As a result, I eat out of emotions rather than physical hunger.
I did the Thin Within program in 2009, and released 45 pounds. When I returned to college in 2010, I slowly began yielding to my emotions, and I have gained 25 pounds. I am so thankful the Lord has lead me back to Thin Within, and since the work is inside out, I feel the Lord would have me to avoid the scales so I can focus on the inside as I surrender my emotional eating to His delivering power.
Speaking to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:26, Jesus said, “Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish that the outside of them may be clean also.” Now I am not calling any of us “Pharisees”, but it is human nature to want the outside to look good before taking care of the inside. In my case, the inside is emotions that spin out of control. For you, it may be something different. Jesus wants to do the work on the inside. It may take time before outward results become evident, but when the work is done on the inside, the results are lasting. I want lasting change. I have settled for temporary changes such as diets which I have noticed have a tendency to irritate the problem rather than solve it.
I am not a patient person by nature, but God is teaching me patience in this process as He begins the work on the inside. The work He is beginning is the same work He promises to complete. Let’s allow Him to begin that work and yield to the process even though it will take time.
How About You?
Do you find the process of waiting as God works on the inside frustrating? What can you do to relieve the frustration? How have diet plans added to any emotional issues or other issues? What do you sense God is leading you to do today?
~Allison Mitchell – Allison lives in Hanover, West Virginia with her husband, Lanny, and her two children, Aaron and Amber. Lanny and Allison are pastors of Peaceful Valley Community Church. Allison is beginning her final semester at Bluefield State College where she will have a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and Middle School English.
Thank you for taking the time to share this! It was exactly what I needed for today.
Thank you for taking the time to read it, Susan. God bless you!
Oh so needed this one 🙂 Yes the inside work that is the hardest part! God is faithful….He will see me through 🙂
Yes, He is faithful, Rachel! God bless you!
Thank you for sharing. This is exactly where I am and I needed this very much. May God continue to bless you on your journey.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. God bless you as well!
I find that I be patient being patient with myself and my Father God helps me not get so stressed out with my weight loss. I have had a long road to hall since I started this back in March. I injured my foot and still am healing form that so I cant walk or stand on it a lot do to planters. It slowly is getting better. I have had many health challenges along the way. I have had 4 and 1/2 months of dealing with severe asthma. Do to the smokey fire season up here in Montana. I have had to lean on the mighty arms of God and learn to rest in Him and in His timing of things. My weight has gone down slowly and up a few pounds do to the steroids. I need to keep my focus on my Father God and not my weight or my ability to exercise. He knows my condition and how far he has brought me. He will bring me all the way safely home to Him. What work he has began in me, He will complete it. I have to keep my head up looking to Jesus the author and finisher of my faith. Others wise I will get discouraged. This journey is not a sprint…it is a slow walk for me. I have to learn to enjoy the process of this new way of 0 to 5 and renewing my thinking in Christ my LORD. He is the way the truth and the life. Who knows what God will bring out of all my suffering. Most likely it is for His glory and His plan and purpose for my life. He is weaving together all the things in my life to make a beautiful tapestry when He is all finished. It is for all His glory and honor my life that He has made and given to me. Praise His wonderful name. Amen
You are right, Jamie. Patience is the key. God bless you!
Thank you Allison for your post. My sister lives in Bluefield and went to college there too. Beautiful country! Thanks again for sharing!
Thank you, Jenn! It is beautiful there. God bless!
Thank you Allison, for the reminder to be patient. I would love to see the weight melting away but it’s not happening as yet. Your comment: “when the work is done on the inside the results are lasting” gives me hope.
Tonight I read a verse that is encouraging, also: Prov. 31:25 NLT “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”
Thanks, Corrine! I love that scripture as well.
No wonder you did not accept my invitation for dessert. Sorry I tempted you, but you were strong
Jima, you were not tempting me. I am allowed desert if I am truly, physically hungry. Sometimes I have to wait. That’s the challenging part.