The Heart of Stewarding a Temple When It Seems Impossible
Heart Happy
Audio By Carbonatix
I almost couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth: “I am so thankful I was overweight for so many years. I wouldn’t be where I am now.” I paused and laughed, realizing how strange it sounded. Why in the world would I be grateful for struggles, discouragement, and shame? Because those hard seasons brought me to a place of freedom and health—and now, I get to help others find the same.
The truth of God’s promise rings so clearly:
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT).
In my weakness, I learned to depend on others. I learned to depend on God. I leaned into the support of a caring community and the guidance of a coach who stood by me every step of the way.
Let me set the record straight—I’ve always been independent. But learning that I need others has been one of the greatest gifts. Each day, I’m embracing new habits in my community, and now, I have the privilege of helping others do the same. One of the first people I supported on their journey was Tammy, and I can’t wait to share her story with you.
Tammy’s Story
Last summer, I sat on the crinkly white paper as a doctor told me I was borderline diabetic. I wasn’t surprised. I’d spent the last 13 years spiraling with out-of-control weight gain after a full hysterectomy. I was left with no natural hormones inside, having no idea how much they affected my body. I never gave hormones much thought before that.
Shortly after that hysterectomy, my thyroid quit working effectively. I lost my hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc. Even after starting different therapies, nothing changed my size. Losing weight seemed impossible. I had tried. With thyroid medicine, diets and exercise programs came and went, without much success.
But it got worse. At a local fair in 2020, I collapsed. Sitting on the steaming hot concrete, unable to get up during a blistering summer day, my son grabbed a staff person. They rushed me to the medical unit, which turned into an ambulance ride, which led to being pushed on a gurney into an emergency room at a level 1 trauma center, followed by a bunch of tests.
My wake-up call had arrived.
I Struggled to be Happy with my Body
Hormones had become my enemy. I’d prayed for answers. But defeat towered like a Goliath taunting and sabotaging my health. I felt helpless, even hopeless. I’d believed lies like:
I’ll always be this way.
This is the ‘new’ me—accept it.
My body is forever broken.
I cannot overcome this.
However, in desperation, I tried one last thing.
At the end of 2023, I asked for help. And I soon discovered others like me getting healthy and having fun doing it! My heart rejoiced and still rejoices in being part of a bigger, encouraging community. The best part? With the right nutrition and the right application, it works.
Since then, I’ve lost 50 pounds from my heaviest.
I realized that I now walk without feeling like my heart would explode from the exertion. I no longer need nightly heartburn medicine or daily OTC headache medicine. I no longer need energy pills to stay awake. My heart gets happy thinking of all the positive changes and results I’ve seen in my life and in others.
For Once in a Long Time, I Have Hope for my Health
Recently, I started a health journey small group at my church, because I want to share what God has been showing me. I wrote to them and now write to you:
“We GET to choose our health. We can reframe our outlook from ‘missing out’, or that ‘we cannot do it’ or –insert another lie of the enemy(!)– and replace it with:
- I am choosing to feel better.
- I get to shed shame and guilt around my eating.
- I’m taking my life back.
- I’m looking forward to more energy with each healthy choice I make.
- I’m healing my body with nutrition.
- I’m exercising the fruit of the Holy Spirit with self-control.
- Food is fuel and not my enemy or emotional crutch.
- I’m stewarding my temple.”
You Can Get Happy About Your Health, Too!
God made us for community, which can also mean living a healthy life together. Jesus has the victory and so do you. As believers, we can lock arms, take down lies of the enemy, and fuel this temple (body) of ours. It is possible.
Do you need help with the lies you’ve believed, and do you want to discover happier health? Contact Tammy! We coach together, and we’d love to support YOU.
Additional Resources
Daily Bible Podcast
We’re Tricia and Michelle, two friends inviting you to join us in reading through the Bible chronologically this year. Reading the Bible every day can be a challenge. We’re here to summarize each day’s passage and provide action steps … in under 15 minutes. Grab a buddy and join our community. Take the plunge, and let’s read through the Bible together. We’ll be cheering you on all the way!
You can join us using your own One Year Bible© (if you’d like to purchase one, you can grab your preferred version using the links below). Or you can print up the One Year Chronological Reading Plan. If you don’t have a copy of the One Year Bible©, we will have the exact passages for the next day in the show notes. You can also subscribe to the One Year Chronological Bible Reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App.
