Sharon's Story

Freedom. I was worth my battle. I just couldn't see it at the time.

It began earlier this year when I cried out to God. I was in a place of desperation, crying out to God to deliver me, to save me from myself. I was shattered, broken, feeling hopeless, fearful. Physically, I was humiliated and embarrassed about myself. I was beginning to retreat socially because of my increasing weight (a little torturous for an outgoing person). I had been dwelling in this place for so long, I questioned if I'd get back to who I used to be. I felt I was forever destined to live in black yoga pants and black sweaters.

With too many coincidences to mention, God guided me on a journey that led me to Grace & Strength. When I spoke to Anna, I knew this is where He intended me to be. He knew the healing I needed "inside" even though I was only just looking at the healing I needed on the outside. I wanted to serve the Lord, but I had to heal first. He knew that…even though I didn't.

I believe God wanted to set me free. If I would have lost all the weight with just any program, I would have been stuck in the same chains, floundering in the hopelessness and despair and inner turmoil that I struggled with. That was no way to live and certainly not the way God was intending for me to live even with a thin body. He knew I crumbled with each new storm and ran to dysfunctional vices that drew me away from God and away from His purpose for my life. Now, my foundation has never been so solid. I no longer crumble when the storms come. Yes, the weight was a huge victory in this journey, but in the end, I would have taken this same journey and made this exact same investment just to have gained this rock-solid foundation – the weight loss has become the awesome bonus.

I no longer crave the things that are self-destructive and detrimental to me. I do not even think about food when trials and tribulations come up in life. Eating becomes such a smaller focus of the day, it truly becomes less of me and more of Him. I actually ‘crave' my time with God. I really truly crave raspberries more than truffles now. My desires, my thoughts, my actions, my temptations…all changed. My new found energy and stamina astounds me. The new lifestyle feels effortless, completely natural now.

The freedoms God has brought into my life are countless. The freedom from pain, inflammation, hopelessness, despair. Freedom to play Frisbee, run through the sprinkler, fitting into pretty dresses and new jeans. But God is so good and so faithful – when my ‘why' was to ‘play Frisbee with my kids' – He said "no, I have something greater in store. Master Zumba" (which I did with my eldest daughter recently). The freedom to pick up the phone to meet a friend for tea; the freedom to help a friend in need.

I also can't believe the joy I feel every morning waking up. I praise God for this new cleansed spirit - every morning when I am still lying in bed, when I first open my eyes, just wake up feeling awash in joy and hope. Despite what the day holds, just waking up with a smile, filled with joy. Every day. Crazy life didn't change one bit. But my peace did.

One of my greatest rewards is knowing I'm now being a better model for my children. Modeling a greater trust in God, He is our rock. God's got this. You throw on headphones and run, you don't need to grab a bag of truffles. You can be strong through trials. Being able to pass on that sense of strength, instead of weakness, to my children and future generations is in itself worth the entire journey.

And it really was only the Lord and His strength that could have brought me to this point. I could never have done it without Him. And I never could have done it without Grace & Strength and my amazing coach Anna. Her articulate teachings, compassion, speaking truth into all of our lives, and God using her own broken road to heal others. I really mean this. It can only be a God thing.

I feel I am (and still becoming) the woman the Lord had intended me to be. I feel playful and spunky and energetic again. I feel a relationship with Him like I never have. I find my identity in Him now, and not in food, not in things, not in acceptance from others.

I want to pass it forward – to offer the hope/healing to other hurting women. I want to be a testimony to God's power and His ability to change our lives and transform us. To walk alongside others to help them in this sometimes broken crazy glorious world. To give them hope, to let them know that there is a God who can break the chains and there is a God who loves them.

Ultimately to help others so they too can taste freedom and give God the glory.

You see those images of the women warriors. That's what I feel like now. I feel strong, confident, courageous, bold, like a conqueror.

So this amazing journey continues, and I thank you so much, and I thank Christ for being my strength, my redeemer, and my deliverer.

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* Individual results may vary.