One thing I’ve been very vocal about, on The Biggest Loser and since appearing on that show is a certain truth – our health is important in our relationship with Christ. I say that not in a legalistic way where one ties his or her weight to God’s love. Instead, our health matters because it makes the difference between being either fully engaged or being significantly limited in what God has for you in life.
That was my issue. Through God, I had gained many good things in life. I was a good youth pastor with a great family in a wonderful church. But my health was affecting me in more ways than I wanted to honestly admit. You see, I was doing my job, but I wasn’t doing it well. There were things like Sunday Morning Xtreme that I physically couldn’t do and mentally wouldn’t try to do. My health and lack of physical fitness was limiting my ability and willingness to be everything that God desired and envisioned for me. Certainly His love and grace for me was in tact. However, it was my purpose and passion that were deeply affected by my weight.
In June of 2011, prior to my appearance on the show, I went to the Dominican Republic for a yearly mission trip I lead with our church. It truly is one of the joys of my year. It is like a family reunion for us. Yet this particular trip didn’t hold as much joy as previous ones. For the first time in my six years on the trip I found myself having to take significantly longer breaks. I was sore and easily fatigued. In fact, one complete afternoon I sat under a tree and just rested because physically I was spent.
Service trips like this are always taxing. Those who have taken teenagers on a similar trip know how difficult it can be managing every component. Beyond these challenges however, this trip is always especially meaningful to me. It is the one time each year, we reunite with people in a village called Cotui to continue our work building a school and sharing the Bible message with families. It is a short once-a-year opportunity to impact this community and yet because of my physical condition I missed a big part of it. I was thankful to be there and see our friends but my effectiveness was minimal…largely due to my health.
I left that trip feeling discouraged and deflated, but also determined to not let it happen again. I surrendered my physical condition to God and asked for help. I was depending on Him to break free from the physical bondage that held me. I knew that the plans he had for my life were too important to miss. It was time to remove any and all limitations that hindered me from fully following His will.
I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to address his or her problem on a popular public television program like The Biggest Looser. But everyone can make the decision like I did to give appetite, attitudes, learned behaviors and self-will to God. He cares for each of us and wants to walk with us through the journey of getting healthy. It isn’t just a diet and exercise program. It is an important discipline that God has intentionally designed to deepen our relationship with Him. Our health is a unique and often ignored component of our life that matters to Him.
Fast forward one year later to June 2012. After my adventure on The Biggest Loser I returned to the Dominican Republic. I had lost the weight and now I was ready to gain it all back and then some — the energy, joy, excitement, and strength were greater than any other previous trip. It was without question the best trip I have ever taken. God worked on me so that He could work through me. It was amazing to have life, real life (both a spiritual and physical experience together), for the first time.
Our health is a unique and often ignored component of our life that matters to Him. God worked on me so that He could work through me.
I haven’t got it all figured out, in fact none of us do. But, I daily walk in God’s goodness and grace. That dependence on Him is what keeps my mind, body, soul, and strength within His will. That gives God the freedom to work in me.
