New Beginnings
A cross stands against a sunrise sky, symbolizing hope and new beginnings. In the Bible, the number 8 represents a new beginning, often linked to a brighter future and a new life . This symbolism continues to give me hope as I reflect on 2017 (8 years ago), when I decided to end the struggle with my weight and poor health. In 2017, I had gained 60 pounds over a period of 5-years —a physical burden that mirrored the emotional and spiritual heaviness I felt.
Losing Myself: Weight Gain and Hashimoto’s
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that wreaked havoc on my body. The condition sapped my energy and caused classic thyroid-related symptoms like constant fatigue and weight gain . Over several years, pound after pound crept on despite my efforts, totaling 60 extra pounds through 2017. 2017 marked the year I awakened to a new beginning.
A Story of a Rapid Ride from 2012-2017
As a dedicated runner, I found myself sidelined—unable to keep up the miles that used to bring me joy. Losing the ability to run in 2012, I felt like I was losing a core part of my identity, and I struggled with a sense of grief and confusion over who I was becoming.
A Transformation Journey Begins
Eventually, I reached a turning point. Tired of feeling trapped in a body and life that didn’t feel like “me,” I resolved to make a change. I initially focused on external goals: eat better, exercise more, lose the weight, and become a runner again. This journey started as a personal mission to reclaim the healthier, fitter self I once was.
But as I began making changes, something deeper started to happen. In the quiet moments of prayer and reflection, I sensed God drawing my attention not just to my physical state, but to my heart. I gradually realized that the true transformation I needed was inside-out. My worth was never meant to come from the number on a scale or the titles I carried (even meaningful ones to me like “runner”). I discovered that the most important identity I have is the one given by God Himself.
Identity in God: Changing Everything
Embracing my identity in God changed every aspect of my life. When I started seeing myself through His eyes and not through the lens of my illness or former hobbies, a ripple effect of positive change followed. It wasn’t just about weight or running anymore—it was about who I am in Christ, and that changed how I approached everything:
• Self-Love: Instead of beating myself up, I learned to love myself as God loves me, recognizing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
• Marriage: With my identity secure in God’s love, I became a more loving and caring spouse, bringing more kindness and understanding into my marriage.
• Parenting: I began to parent from a place of faith and grace, modeling resilience and hope to my children and teaching them to find their identity in God too.
• Work: I started viewing my work as part of my calling. I approached my job with integrity and purpose, working “as unto the Lord” and finding new meaning in everyday tasks.
• Health: I learned to treat my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Eating well and staying active became acts of stewardship and worship rather than just tactics to lose weight, making healthy habits easier to maintain.
Other People’s Forgiveness
As we walk the path of redemption and renewal, it’s also time to reflect on the relationships in our lives—the ones that endured our struggles and the ones that could not withstand who we once were. I’ve learned that not everyone will embrace the person I am becoming, and that’s okay. Some people preferred the version of me that was unhealthy, lost, and living selfishly. Others longed for the version of me before I fell into that darkness, unable to forgive the years I spent wandering. Even though I had been redeemed and transformed, they continued to treat me as if I was still that same broken person, unwilling to see the work God had done in me. But even in that, I’ve had to accept that their forgiveness for my behaviors when I was a wanderer is not my responsibility. The only forgiveness that truly matters is God’s, and the only people I want in my life now are those who believe that if His GRACE is enough to forgive, then they too should choose GRACE. I mourn one specific relationship that was lost, but I stand firm in the promise of Joel 2:25—that God will restore the years that have been taken. I trust that, in His perfect time, reconciliation will come, just as He has already begun to restore so much of what was broken.
Consistency, Trust, and Restoration
A silhouette runs along the shore at sunrise, symbolizing a return of health and passion. Once I put God at the center, I learned the value of consistency and trust. Instead of chasing quick fixes or getting discouraged by slow progress, I committed to steady, faithful habits—daily prayer, better food choices, regular gentle exercise, surrounding myself with a like-minded community—and trusted God with the results. In time, those pounds began to come off, and my strength and energy started to return. More importantly, God was restoring things I thought were gone forever: my confidence, my joy, and yes, even my love for a different flavor of exercise. Running now done with a grateful heart, not as a measure of my worth, became a distant memory. I embraced my new form of exercise and went all in!
I experienced the truth of Joel 2:25, where God promises, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” . He truly redeemed those lost years of decline by not only improving my health, but also deepening my faith and healing the inner wounds that had accumulated.
Encouragement for True Transformation
My journey taught me that real transformation is about so much more than a number on the scale or achieving a personal goal. It’s about a heart changed by God’s love and a life redefined by His truth. If you’re facing setbacks or feeling like you’ve lost yourself, I encourage you to seek your identity in God above all else. He is the God of new beginnings, and in Him you can become a new creation with a hope and purpose that transcend any circumstance. When you know who you are in God, it changes everything—and that change will overflow into every area of your life, bringing restoration and true transformation.
Elevating Health, Inspiring Balance 