There is no time, more apparent than now, that I'm a work in progress. I mean, we all are, right? Over this past year God has been working on me in some pretty incredible ways. He's made my flaws and weaknesses very clear to me. He's been leading me down a road that is challenging me to improve myself and all those pesky flaws so I can become the Godly woman he wants me to be. To say it hasn't been easy is sugar coating it. There have been lots of obstacles and a lot of circumstances where I've had to lay down the things that I wanted because God's plan for me was different than the one I had for myself. In the past few weeks I've had to let go of some dreams that I have had planned for myself, dreams that I've been so excited about. The door has shut for me, at least for right now. God has answered my prayers with a big fat NO, and today I realize that that's okay. Trusting God isn't always so easy when things don't go in our favor. For many, myself included, it's easy to feel that God not giving us what we want is simply him not hearing us or not answering our prayers, but often times.. he is answering our prayers, it's just not the answer we wanted. Sometimes, it's a Big fat NO... or I like to say.. "not right now.." As I sit here, I KNOW God is working in my life. He is blessing me is some amazing ways, and even though the direction my life I'm leading isn't the plan I originally had, I know his plan will be even better. I believe the same is for you. We are all his "works in progress".

Have you ever wondered WHY you are having to go through something? Why things aren't going your way or why your life plans aren't working out? I know I have. I think it's human nature to want to be in control and it can be particularly hard when we don't get what we want. I'm right, aren't I? I think it's in times like this that we have to remember that God always has our best intentions in mind.  I love Jerimiah 29:11 that says, " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." No matter what we are going through, I find it helpful to look for the little blessings along the way. Maybe you've found peace in a rather challenging day or someone was there to encourage you and lift you up despite the negativity that sounds you. God provides us with what we need, when we need it and sometimes the very thing that is tearing us down, is the tool God is using to rebuild us into the person he wants us to be. James 1:2-4, says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

You know, we will never know why certain things happen. Our plans may never work out the way we had planned and I think it's okay to morn over that, but I also thing there is power in hope. Hope that no matter what, our pain and struggles are never in vain. God is using all of it for good, we just may not see it right here in the moment. Today I encourage you to have hope. Hope that even if the answer to your prayer is NO, that God has something better in mind for you. Romans 12:12 reminds us to "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer". He will never leave us or forsake us. Today lets celebrate that no matter what we have a Father in heaven who is in absolute control who loves us and has some amazing plans for us. Today lets trust and rejoice in that hope!

I spent years looking in the mirror disliking what I saw. It's hard to admit that, but it's true. I had been a certain way my entire life, so in my heart I had given up hope of ever being any different than I already was. Then somehow, I did it. I was able to break away from my excuses and achieve what I never thought possible. It didn't happen overnight and I made a lot of mistakes along the way but by putting one foot in front of the other, I figured it out. You know, 2 years down the road I still have days where I feel the same way I did when I was 45lbs heavier. I still feel awkward in a swimsuit and I still have my "fat days". It's funny how that works. When we are on the path to living a healthier life and loosing weight, we feel like loosing weight and being thin will fix all of our problems. We think we will always feel confident and happy.. and in some ways, that is true. There is great accomplishment to be found in weight loss but it's not the whole picture. Along this journey, I've learned that loosing weight doesn't mean you lose who you are and all your insecurities, it just means you are a thinner person with the same issues. Freedom isn't about that scale my friends, freedom comes from a changed heart. That's what I want to talk to you about today.

In our society, it's so easy to place significant value on our appearances. It starts at such an early age, doesn't it? For many of us women, or self worth is directly related to how we view ourselves and how society sees us, but God tells us that what truly matters is what is on the inside. 1 Samuel 16:7 says,  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So, yes we need to take care of our bodies, so we are strong and healthy but it's not the whole picture. Our appearance does not define who we are, our heart does.  First and foremost we need to focus on our hearts and what is going on in the inside, how we feel about ourselves and how we behave towards not only ourselves but others.  I love what is said in Proverbs 31:30: “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” 

Today lets remind ourselves that beauty comes from within, in the women we are. We are caring, loving, and helpful. As women we love on others and go out of our way to show our concern for the ones we love. Today I encourage you to start taking care of your heart, just as much as you are taking care of your outsides. Whether you have reached your health and fitness goals or you are just beginning, now is the time to start loving you for who you are, not for who you CAN be. Embrace that person inside you in all of her beauty. No longer do you have to be define by your outward appearance. God's measure of beauty is far more valuable than what anyone else thinks.