Progress is seeing your average steps per day go from somewhere in the 3,000 step range three weeks ago to 9,559 average per day today. As I was thinking about this, I couldn't help but give thanks to the One who has proven that all God asks is that we trust Him and move forward. As I was giving thanks, the following passages came to mind:
"...but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that the suffering produces endurance, and the endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
"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 affect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
James 1:2-4 (ESV)
"I am the true fine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
John 15:1-2 (ESV)
A year ago I had been doing great with exercising and eating right, losing weight and feeling great. Then my knee began to give me trouble. I will admit that there were a few times when I questioned God. I would remind Him that I was trying to improve my body to be more useful for His purposes, as if He didn't already know that. At times I wept, feeling hopeless. I was failing to remember that God was aware of all this and was designing a much bigger purpose. I continued praying...begging basically for God to make it all better. Then I realized what I needed to do most was surrender it to Him. I needed to leap and look into options that could help me exercise as well as eat right. I began to see a plan but would need to wait on provisions for a couple months. Then a provision came in and we could utilize the YMCA as a family. I am still needing to trust that God will provide for us to continue that plan after October 9th. If this isn't His plan then I need to trust His purpose.
There are times that we all go through challenges that seem harsh and even harmful, but just like a gardener removes branches to help a plant produce fruit, God purges and prunes us so that we experience His working in lives and know that is was completely His doing and not of our own doing. When the challenges come, God is providing opportunity for us to take joy in Him and what He is doing to make us more useful for His service.
I never thought I would see the day when I would get over 10,000 steps most days of the week. God was not wasting time, however. He was and is continuing to grow me in His grace.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.
Frederick Martin Lehman (1868-1953)
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