In this video, and in the blog below are three strategies to help you overcome the belief that “it won’t happen for you”.

What does that mean? Could it be: Losing weight? Getting fitter? Feeling like everyone else has things under control? That other people are more organised than you?  Why is it that you think this thing that you want to achieve can really happen for other people, but not for you?

It’s really important to try and challenge this mindset, because it can really hold you back from reaching your goals, your dreams, your desires and your potential, and from being how God has designed and created you to be. It’s one of the most common self-sabotaging behaviours.

Here are three things that you can do when you don’t believe that ‘it’ will happen for you!

Number one is don’t make assumptions, apart from assuming that everyone is on their own journey! It’s really easy to look around and think: “Oh, it’s alright for them. They’ve always been fit.” Or “It’s alright for them, they’ve always been slim, they’ve never had to struggle like I have.” ” It’s alright for them, they haven’t got any health problems.”

But don’t make assumptions, because you don’t know what’s really going on for them.  It used to really frustrate me, after I lost quite a lot of weight, when people would say: “Oh, it’s okay for you, you’re slim”, or when people who’ve only really known me smaller would just assume that I’ve never really had a particular battle in that area. Don’t assume that, because people will be on their own journey. And actually, they might have had to work really hard or be working really hard at it.

Surround yourself by people who are also on a journey. And maybe some people who are slightly ahead of you on their journey so that they can really help you.

Number two is choose the harder path for now. It’s hard to choose hard, but remember the harder path gets easy, and the easy path gets harder. It’s hard to change habits and behaviours, it doesn’t happen overnight. And if it does, it’ll be in your own strength and under your own willpower meaning you might not have delved deeper and worked out some of those foundations. If you stay in the easy lane, then it might be easy for now. But later it will get a little bit harder and a bit more challenging. So, dig deep, take the harder path and believe that things will get easier further on.

You can’t expect to suddenly be healthy, or suddenly be free from thinking about food overnight. God is able, of course, to do miracles, but sometimes he wants us to meet him in it as well. You do need to put some effort in, learn what you need to do and take the right path. You don’t just choose a jigsaw puzzle and think, “oh, that’s an amazing picture, I’m going to get that puzzle”, but then open the box and be a bit disappointed that it’s still in 500 separate pieces. This will be a bit of a journey, a bit of a puzzle. And it might be boring at times, it might be a bit of hard work at times, like pieces that are just grass or sea or sky! Remember the bigger picture is brilliant. So put the hard work in now and as more of the pieces fit together it will get easier. And remember, what’s the alternative of not actually taking some steps and taking some actions? You stay as you are, or even things get a bit worse.

Number three is remember that God has already got the victory. We need to take hold of that trophy that he’s holding up with him; don’t cling on to other stuff that you like to hold on to because it’s familiar. Cling on to the trophy and the victory that God has given us, not something that’s familiar. You might need to let go of some stuff in order to hold on to the cup and the trophy that God has. Because with God, all things are possible; you need to believe that and hang on to it. For you, that might mean reciting Bible verses, singing songs, praying about it; claim that victory!

Here are a few encouraging verses which confirm that Christ already has the victory. And these verses also serve as a reminder to let go of the rubbish and of what seems comfortable right now, to step off the easy path and into the unknown: to take hold of the real trophy, to be healthier, freer and fitter to live your life in the way that God wants for you.  

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But God said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you, except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things so that in me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you’ve done everything, to stand.”

James 1:1-5 “James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith provides perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”