Off the Wagon and Into Grace

Jessica
Jessica

I totally fell off the healthy eating wagon this weekend! I do so well during the week, staying focused on how to eat to fuel my body and then the weekends come along and I can’t seem to control myself in splurging on unhealthy foods that I KNOW are not good for me!

Jessica
Laura
Laura

I’m right there with you!  Weekends can be full of food temptations.  I helped myself to a “healthy” slice of cake this weekend at a friend’s birthday party.  And then some of the leftovers seemed to magically jump in the car to come home with me! ?

Laura
Jessica
Jessica

Haha!  I know that story well ?! I’m totally beating myself up because of my lack of self-control!  

Jessica
Michelle
Michelle

I know what you mean — when I do something I’m not proud of, I feel like I just hear the negative self-talk reverberating in my mind…

Michelle
Jessica
Jessica

Yes!  And then those bad feelings about myself impact my day and how I interact with my kids.  It’s a vicious cycle.

Jessica
Laura
Laura

I hear you on that!  One day last week, I thought I was doing well with my eating and exercising, so I decided to weigh myself only to discover that the scale didn’t agree.  My whole demeanor fell into discouragement.  I try not to talk to the boys about my weight because I don’t want them to think about themselves negatively like I sometimes do about myself, but I still see a huge difference in my treatment of them and my husband when I feel cruddy about myself.  It’s bad enough I let the scale dictate to me who I was, but then I let it affect my family.

Laura
Michelle
Michelle

You’re right on because when I am hearing lies about myself, I feel defeated and discouraged and that spreads into how I respond to everyone!

Michelle
Jessica
Jessica

I know…It’s like I tumbled off that wagon and I’m laying on the side of the road watching it take off without me!

Jessica
Laura
Laura

Is it just me, or does the wagon reference make anyone else think of the countless hours we spent as children playing Oregon Trail?   ?  Sorry to digress!

Laura
Michelle
Michelle

Haha! Well, now you have me thinking about it!  Wasn’t it super hard to make it to the end of that game?  Everyone always died of cholera and dysentery.  Oregon seemed to be this elusive place that no one really made it to.

Michelle
Laura
Laura

Maybe the wagon reference isn’t too far off!

Laura
Jessica
Jessica

You’re probably right!  Saying “I fell off the wagon” makes it sound like I’m on a path to some elusive place of victory.  Really I just made some bad choices.  I took my eyes off of my focus on honoring God with my body.

Jessica
Laura
Laura

Like how Peter took his eyes off Jesus while walking on water.

Laura
Jessica
Jessica

Wow, yes!  And then Peter began to sink, very much like me!

Jessica
Laura
Laura

But in that story of the Bible, Peter calls out to Jesus and Jesus rescues him.  I think you need to give yourself some grace and ask God to help you re-start in this moment.  He cares too much about you to let what happened over the weekend affect His relationship with you!

Laura
Michelle
Michelle

I also think in these situations that play right into some of my lies about myself, I am learning to talk to God about it before it happens. Like – Okay, God, you know my weakness and weekends are hard for me to stay committed in healthy eating choices. Would you help me when I’m tempted? And when I fall off the wagon, will you help me to accept your grace and begin again? Sometimes I think I lean too heavily on my willpower instead of remembering that God’s power will give me all I need.

Michelle
Laura
Laura

And when we do mess up, it isn’t like the wagon is totally lost and our whole family destroyed along with it and we’ll never make it to Oregon… He is with us, mending our brokenness.  We don’t even have to wait to trade with Him for a new axle or another ox or whatever! He just has everything we need!  Including how to transform our own thinking about our “defeat.”

Laura
Jessica
Jessica

You’re right.  God doesn’t want me to wallow in the choices I have already made.  God gives me grace and wipes my slate clean each moment.   And when I accept His grace, I feel empowered to make more positive choices starting now. ? ?

I’m not on a path towards victory, I’m taking steps with God in victory.  

Jessica
Laura
Laura

What a great concept to model for our kids.  They are all going to face struggles with making choices (how many times have I said, “that wasn’t the best choice” or “try again!”).  If we know we can walk in His victory and grace regardless of our choices, then we can show them how to do the same.  And I don’t know about you, but I would love to see my kids walk through life with that kind of grace!

Laura

Soaking in the Truth

 

Scripture to encourage you:

    • Matthew 14:28-33 (MSG)  Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
    • Hebrews 12: 1-2 (NLT)  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Music to inspire you:


Readings to come alongside of you:


Living Out the Truth

Ideas to try:

    • Come up with some measurements of success for yourself that don’t involve the number on the scale or the number on your clothing tags.  Think of how God would want you to measure your success.  Some examples may be, “Have I eaten only out of physical hunger today?” or “Have I asked God to be present and help me be mindful during meals today?”  
    • If you’re like me and struggle with your relationship with food, I wrote an 8-week  Bible study called “Shedding the Weight” that I would LOVE to share with you! Subscribe to our email list above on the right side of the page under “Connect with Us” to receive your FREE copy of this study.  The link will go out in our weekly subscriber email.

(These suggestions are ideas from novice moms.   Sometimes our life situations need more.  In that case, seeking out professional help is the right call.)

About Michelle Warner

The truth about me is that I love spending time with people–whether it be with moms in MOPS, students in writing camps, friends in my supper club, or family on our patio. And if you combine people and words, I am definitely in my happy place. One of my most favorite moments is sitting around a table with the people I love sharing deep conversations about life. Inviting people into our home and pulling out my fancy dishes invigorates me, though tackling the hand-wash pile in my sink does quite the opposite. (Sorry, Hubby. I’ll get to those soon!) I’m learning to enjoy the people in my life without feeling the need to prove myself or always make them happy. God continues to teach me that when I find what I need in Him rather than the perfectly-cooked chicken or the perfectly-timed word, I have a security that can’t be shaken. And that’s a good thing since my hard-working husband and I have two very determined little girls who keep us on our toes!