Losing Weight This Summer Won’t Make Everything Better … But Something Else Will

Have you ever had the thought, “If only I was smaller, I’d do x, y or z?”

Perhaps you’d wear a certain fashion, maybe a crop top or skinny jeans? Maybe you’d create an online dating profile, pick up a new hobby, go on your dream vacation, or check off that bucket list item.

Or maybe the thought is, “If only I was smaller, life would be better.”

I remember when I was a teenager and stepped on a scale one summer, the lowest number I had ever seen flashed before my eyes.

Was I happy? No, actually the emotion I felt was intense shock. “Wait. What?” Satan and society had sold me the lie that, if only I weighed a certain amount, I would finally be happy and my life perfect.

After stepping on that digital scale, I felt betrayed, lied to, deceived. I wasn’t living my best life since reaching my goal weight, but rather life was still full of annoying things. In my case, I had lost weight in a very unhealthy way, and it was also unnecessary weight to lose. I was struggling with an eating disorder at the time, and that dangerous weight loss actually caused more problems in my life. I was downright miserable and felt sick due to the lack of nutrients.

Yes, I was smaller, but I still had challenging homework assignments and exams coming my way once the school year started again in the fall. There were still boys I had crushes on that didn’t like me back. I still had friendship issues to navigate once our vacation ended. Fights with my parents over me not feeding myself near enough continued. Getting the coveted “xyz” ( in this case, weight loss) didn’t solve everything in my life.

And, I still didn’t love how my body looked, even though I thought I finally once I lost so much weight. I still struggled with self esteem. Getting to a magical number didn’t suddenly make me a confident young woman like I thought it would. Why? Because I still had the same thoughts towards my body. Even though my body had changed in size, my mindset towards it was the same: it still wasn’t enough in my eyes.

Thankfully, I finally learned how to see myself through a different perspective. It’s crazy powerful how influence can be used for such good. Let me share a real-life example of this, before I share a spiritual one.

I have a podcast called Her Holy Hustle Podcast, and it’s intended for Christian entrepreneurs desiring to run their business at a peaceful pace with God. I had the founder of Stand Unshaken — Hi Denika! — as a guest in one episode (it comes out at the start of July 2021), and on it she mentioned that she loved hot weather. The very next day it was soooo hot where I lived. I was hating it, wishing my short walk to the grocery store could be over, and that I was already in the cold AC of Walmart.

Then the Holy Spirit brought to mind my conversation with Denika. Suddenly, I saw the hot weather through her eyes. How it was awesome, beautiful, a gift, even an adventure! Sometimes all it takes is seeing something through another’s appreciative eyes for you to do the same. For you to also be able to pick out the good in a situation. The remainder of my walk to get groceries that day was with a joyful mindset, relishing in the lovely nature and fleeting warmth around me. The cold Canadian winter will be back before I know it, so I should take in the heat while I can!

In a similar way, I was able to finally see my body through God’s perspective once I started spending more time in his Word.

Friends, only Jesus can satisfy a Jesus craving. I thought I needed to lose weight to have a great life, but really I need to spend more time with God, to have him help me see my body as good and beautiful and enough. At any shape or size. Weight loss isn’t wrong, though there are unhealthy ways to go about it, but we need to be careful not to treat weight loss like a god, to believe it will save us from life’s worries or solve everything.

I have fallen for the lie of more so many times and in various areas. Believing that obtaining more earthly things would lead to my dream life. However, those achievements only left me feeling empty. It’s like I kept filling my car (life) with apple juice when really it needed gas to run properly! I needed some Jesus time, not more stuff!

I’d think, “Maybe if I get married. Or get that job. Or get that many clients. Or make that much money. Or achieve that many followers on Instagram or likes on Facebook. No, wait! Get a pet. Or lose that covid 10 pounds I put on. Yes! Once I get that, everything will finally be great in my life!”  

Have you fallen for the lie of more, too? I think we all have at some point in our lives.
More “xyz” = finally happy and fulfilled. Dream life arrived.

When I got those things above though — like finally said, “I do” to my hubby or finally saw my dream following number on IG — I didn’t feel so complete. Life wasn’t perfect, like I thought it would be. I still felt sad, unsatisfied and like something was missing. I still felt off, just like I had as a teen who finally lost the weight, yet everything wasn’t peachy because of it.

Friends, we can’t satisfy a Jesus craving with things other than him. When I spend time in the Word, that Jesus shaped puzzle piece in me gets filled to the brim.

Trust me, more stuff, more popularity, more weight loss and more achievements won’t satisfy that longing you have. Point of post? Kids, husband, more money, more friends — none of it will satisfy that Jesus longing you have.

Again, only Jesus can satisfy a Jesus craving.

So carve out some time for him today. Place your Bible in a place you will see it often. Pick a habit you already do and attach Bible reading to that habit. I set my Bible on my bed and read it before I go to sleep most nights. Even if it’s three to five minutes, some is better than none.

The Word is alive and active and potent. You’ll still feel way better with some Bible nutrients in your system than none. Put your Bible by your coffee maker or by the table. Just stack your new desired habit with one you already have. Make the thing you want to do more of the convenient thing to do.

You’ll like who you become when you spend consistent time with him and allow his character to influence you. I know I like myself way better when I hang out with him daily.

You don’t need more of anything earthly to be happier this summer, but you do need consistent time with him. That is what your soul is longing for, not that other stuff. Give yourself and your loved ones a gift today and reach for the healthiest habit of the day: time with God.

P.S. — If you want to check out my convo with Denika on my podcast, it’s episode five! She was a joy to chat with, and it felt like I was chatting with the long-lost twin I never had! Seriously, we discovered we had so much in common, and it was gift from God getting to know her more. Listen here!