Just One…
“Just one.” This is the whisper I heard a few years ago when I was out jogging-finally for the right reasons. I had stopped to have a moment with God and I heard him say it.
It took me a while to realize what He meant. But I discovered that for me, it meant He wanted me to try and help other women, even if it was just one- just one person who needed to be reminded of their worth and break free from the same unhealthy cycle I had struggled with for so long.
Just one woman who needed to see that she didn’t need to fight her body to fit societal standards. Just one woman who couldn’t figure out why she was binging and felt so out of control with food. Just one woman who felt so much shame and guilt for not sticking to her diet or workout plan, yet again. Just one woman who has gained and lost and gained again to be left feeling like a failure. Just one woman who was so tired of feeling like a slave to her obsession with food and her body. Just one woman longing to enjoy some of her mom’s homemade bread without feeling like she will go crazy and eat everything in sight. Just one woman longing to finally accept the body that she was in and be completely present in the moment without worrying about how she looked or what she would eat. Just one woman ready to be free from the chains of a culture that has put so much emphasis on appearance, that they have lost sight of what truly matters.
I have held onto those words for a while and as I have continued to heal, I know in my heart that this I something that God is calling me to do. I know He is calling me to share a different message than what we get today- the message that robs so many women of their worth and their purpose- a message that is so deeply fixated earning our worth- a message that the enemy has used to distract so many of us. After all, pursuing health isn’t inherently bad. So this is the perfect way that he can convince us that it is okay to put so much time into pursuing a healthy diet and exercise. What a sneaky distraction it is!! So I will call him out on his lies and share this message with others.
But to be honest with you… I still keep asking God the question, “Me? Really God, me? I am not qualified to help anyone. What do I really know?” But then I hear God say, “You can’t, but I CAN. I am the vine, and you are the branches.” And then I see everywhere I go another reminder from God that despite the fact that I still struggle and have to fight that voice, “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4:13) Really though- you know what I mean.. when God keeps sending you a message and you can’t escape it. This scripture still shows up when I need it- funny how He works, huh?
So I will say yes to God. I will lift my hands in surrender, despite the fact that I don’t feel like I am capable of doing this or know enough to help anyone. I will say yes to doing what I can- to helping anyone I can who is struggling with the same battle that I have gone through- just one person who I can help see that there is another way and we don’t have to live like this. I will surrender to Him and let Him have it all because I know that He can. I know that all of the healing that I have experienced is because of Him showing me that there was another way.
It is my hope that I can encourage you and most of all help you experience healing and freedom when you surrender the control and focus on what really matters.
So even if it’s just one person- Know this… YOU are worth more than you will ever know. :)