The Struggle is Real

I woke up once with a weird thought about overcoming emotional eating and weight loss:

“The struggle is real, but the struggle is also right.”

What? While we may not like that last part, it can help a lot if you are struggling right now.

Let me explain.

Recall an exciting movie you’ve seen recently.

Didn’t it involve a heroine/hero’s struggle at the story’s core?

That’s what kept you on the edge of your seat – wondering how the story would turn out!

After all, if everything were the same at the end of the movie as it was at the beginning, then what would be the point in watching it?

So struggle is right when it is in service to a righteous cause; love is our righteous cause.

We believe that we are on the side of what is good and right, even when it is challenging.

Because we believe in the cause, we are willing to endure hardship as a good soldier.

Ask yourself: Do you believe?

What is your transformation story? Consider:

– Where were you?

What was your experience meeting Jesus?

– Where are you now?

Who do you expect to become with God’s help?

– What is your righteous cause?

– Who else will benefit when you overcome?

Remember your struggle is not the end; it is just a part of your transformation story.

The Real Meaning of Struggle

Have you ever considered what struggle really means? The definition of struggle is “a forceful effort to get free of restraint or resist attack.”

If you are struggling, then you are in a good place. You are a warrior!

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are struggling against an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy us.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

– Ephesians 6:12

Struggle is how we learn, grow, change and overcome.

In the case of overcoming emotional eating and weight loss, you are struggling to get free of old behaviors that may have left you overweight or unhealthy.

You are learning new daily behaviors necessary to live as a fit, healthy person – Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Struggle is a necessary part of the process.

Unfortunately, some people tell themselves “I am struggling” when the truth is – they are not struggling at all.

They are just giving in.

There is no resistance, no attempt to do anything different in how they live their daily lives.

And because they do not resist that which is destroying them, they do not change!

Viewing Struggle the Right Way

When you feel that your struggle is meaningless, you want to give up.

You think, ”What I am doing is not making any difference.”

However, that is a lie straight from the pit of hell!

The bedrock reason that you want to get and stay healthy is to be what God is calling you to be and do what God is calling you to do.

James 1:2-4 is a reminder of the benefits of viewing your struggle in the right way:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Not only is the struggle real and right, but it is also temporary.

Struggle will not last forever.

One of my favorite scriptures to remind me of that truth is 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Your goal is to outlast your struggle, to remain standing through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thank God for the struggle because through through, you are being changed into the image of our dear Savior, from glory to glory and from faith to faith!

Be Blessed with Health, Healing, and Wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor

Author of the Take Back Your Temple program

P.S. Do you struggle with overeating sugar? If so, you are not alone!

Overcoming sugar addiction was a key factor on my weight loss journey; I lost 85 pounds and dropped from a size 22 to an 8.

In our 14-day Sugar Detox Challenge online course (inside the Take Back Your Temple program), you’ll get the same success strategies and support to gain peace in your eating habits and achieve lasting weight loss.

Click here to learn more about the Take Back Your Temple program.

“Prayer for Weight Loss”

About the author 

Kimberly Taylor

Kimberly Taylor is a certified Christian life coach and has a heart to help others struggling with emotional eating and weight loss. Once 240 pounds and a size 22, she can testify of God’s goodness and healing power to overcome. She lost 85 pounds as a result of implementing techniques to overcome emotional eating and binge eating disorder.

Kim is the author of "The Take Back Your Temple Program," which teaches Christians how to take control of their weight God's way and the books "The Weight Loss Scriptures" and "The Weight Loss Prayers."

Kim has been featured in Prevention Magazine, Charisma Magazine and on CBN’s 'The 700 Club' television program.

  • I am struggling and losing right now. Struggling because I am more aware than ever of this stronghold. I’m grateful that God woke me up this morning to try again. It is of the Lord’s mercies that I am not consumed. I want to be used by God in ministry. This perverted appetite has got to be overcome. Please pray for me.

    • I will pray with you, Brenda – one of the things to be aware of are any emotional attachments to food, how you handle stress/negative emotions, and whether the foods you are eating are hijacking your brain. All of these things need addressing with the Lord’s help. If you need more support in this area, please check out our Take Back Your Temple program: https://takebackyourtemple.com/program

  • Its a great reminder to surrender to the Lord in my struggle… It is the devils lie I’m listening to thinking I don’t care. I fully care about my health and feel aedul with my heavy weight so I need to CARE and make choices that show I care.

  • Powerful as well as beautiful. This came at just the right time. Thank you so much for this inspiring testimony. I will have a powerful testimony as well. To God be the glory!

  • Thank you for helping me to stay focused on this journey! It is so easy to lose focus when going through a trial. Blessings!

    • You are welcome, Pam. It is SO easy to lose focus in the busy-ness of life. We have to remind ourselves DAILY about what is really important to us and line up our thoughts and actions in that direction DAILY 🙂

  • These words of encouragement came at the perfect time. I’m so tired if struggling lose 3 gain 4. I need to work on my mind and why I really want to do this. With God all things are possible!!

  • I completely agree. You have to get your mind right to progress. That’s the hard part. I keep listen to and replaying the same old lyrics instead of renewing my mind with a new song.

  • Thank you Kimberly! Yes, the struggle is real! Really real! I’ve lost 50 pounds over the last year, and somehow, once reaching that benchmark, I’ve lost my mind! By that, I mean I’ve allowed the negative thoughts hamper me. I’ve gained back about 15. I need to at least lose a total of 100. If I’ve dropped 50, rationally I should know that I can continue and lose the rest.

    Yep…..I’ve allowed the negative thoughts tell me that I can’t do it. Why try?

    This was good, Kimberly. It is giving me a renewed dedication, purpose, and vision.

    • Praise God, Carla. It’s wonderful that you’ve kept 35 pounds off! Celebrate that. This is a daily walk and weight loss does require focus because its too easy to let those negative thoughts and destructive habits to creep back in. I am glad that you are renewing your vision, purpose, and dedication. Remind yourself of these things daily and they will help to guide your daily decisions 🙂

    • I am glad to hear that this was on time for you Annie. When you are hurting, that means it’s time to lean it to Jesus. He promises to provide rest for your soul and heal the brokenhearted. Take Him at His word 🙂

  • God is so Awesome! This morning I was feeling defeated because I weighed in and gained 3 pounds. My normal thing to do would be to self sabotage but instead I start thinking about what I can change to keep going. Then I opened my emails and the fist email was from you that stated “If you are struggling “. I smiled because I knew some great information and inspiration was in that email. Thank you so much for sharing! God is so amazing!

  • Gosh, I needed this today. I’ve been on WeightWatchers for a month. The weight is not coming off. I’m discouraged. I came to work this morning, bringing my lunch of fruit and veggies to place in the fridge – still discouraged. Waiting again for me today was a luscious cake that I dodged all day yesterday. I gave in. I did take a small piece. I ate it as I waited for my computer to boot up. I saw today’s encouragement from Kimberly. A balm for my soul, but guilt now for not holding out and saying, “NO!” to the cake. This IS a battle of the mind…and I thank you for the encouragement.

  • Thank you Kimberly Taylor, for your obedience to use your struggle as a life line for others.
    The Take Back Your Temple Program has been a blessing to me. The group support and accountability has given me the opportunity to connect with some very inspiring Godly women. For this I am very grateful.

  • Thank you so much for these emails. When I think about my body as the Holy Spirits Temple it inspires me.

    • That is awesome, Sandra! It is especially meaningful when you see how the ancient temple Solomon built was described: Glorious, Great, and Wonderful were the words used. How much more the miraculous body the Lord gave you in which His Spirit dwells!

  • Thank you for this. I will use these scripture on cards to say to myself every day and commit them to memory.

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