“When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity. Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Luke 13:12-13 (NIV)
This woman was set free by the power of Christ to glorify God. When God does a work in our lives, it’s for a purpose.
For many years of my life I lived as though it was my life’s mission to lose weight. But on a deeper level, I simply wanted to be free. I wanted to be free of the inner turmoil this body image struggle caused. I wanted to be free from daily worries about how I looked and what other people thought of me. I wanted to be free from being driven by numbers on a scale.
God did set me free. But He didn’t set me free simply to make my life easier. He set me free so that I could glorify Him with my story. He set me free so that I could show women how to build a healthy life on a foundation of faith. He set me free so that I could share with others that He can set them free too.
When you’ve been consumed by a struggle, whether it’s an illness, a financial or a relational problem, or any weight or worry, and then God sets you free, you want to let others know. You want them to know there is a better way.
I know how it is to base your worth on the numbers on the scale.
I know how it is to live with constant worry about what others think of me.
I know what it’s like to feel lonely even when you’re not alone.
I know what it’s like to be anxious all the time.
Once I was free from those things, I wanted to share it. When women asked me how I let those things go, I wanted to tell them that it was by God’s grace. I wanted to help them learn to build their healthy life on a foundation of faith like I did.
What has God done in your life? He did it for a purpose. Are you sharing it? Are you praising Him for it? Are you being generous with the message? His gifts are abundant. There’s freedom for all who come to Him and ask for it.
He’s chosen to do something in you so He can do something through you.
St. Catherine of Siena said, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” It’s time for us to light up our corner of the world.
Action Step
Share with someone what God has done for you. Tell them about the changes He’s made in you on your faith and fitness journey. Invite them to come along with you.
