Finding Rhythm Again
Since my last update, a lot has happened. After Allen and I returned home from our RV vacation, we started walking together nearly every evening. It didn't take long for me to realize how much I enjoyed those walks; we talked about our day, laughed together, and simply enjoyed spending time outside. Those walks gave me hope. For the first time in a while, I could see a healthier future and picture myself feeling stronger and having more energy. It felt like I was finally getting back on track.
An Unexpected Obstacle
Then life took an unexpected turn. While we were on vacation, I found two ticks on me. When I realized that one of them had been attached for quite some time, I immediately prayed and asked God to protect me from getting a tick-borne disease. Many years ago, I had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and I had no desire to go through something like that again. But about a week after we got back from vacation, I noticed a rash around the bite, and three days after that, Allen took me to the emergency room with a fever, headache, and extreme fatigue. To make a long story short, I spent a solid week in bed.
(If you'd like to read the full story, you can read my blog, "Resting in His Faithfulness: Trusting God When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn.")
Picking Up the Pace
There wasn't much walking happening that week. One of my biggest concerns wasn't just getting better; I was afraid I would lose the routine we had just started. It's so much easier to stay in a healthy routine than it is to get back into one after you've stopped. Thankfully, that's not what happened. Once I started feeling better, Allen and I picked our walks right back up. Weather permitting, we've been walking most evenings, and it's become one of my favorite parts of the day. Beyond doing something good for our health, I treasure the time we spend together. We laugh, talk, and sometimes solve all of life's problems before we make it back home. It reminds me of Ecclesiastes 4:9: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor." I'm so thankful I have someone beside me encouraging me through this journey.
Redefining Progress
Yesterday morning I stepped on the scale—nothing. No weight loss, no smaller pant size. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that not everything can be measured by a number on the scale. I'm feeling better, I'm enjoying being active again, and something else has changed that I didn't expect: my confidence is slowly returning. A few months ago, I shared that I had lost confidence in my appearance, and I honestly wasn't sure if I'd ever feel like myself again. I'm not all the way there yet, but I can tell something is changing. It isn't because I've reached a goal or lost a significant amount of weight, but because I know I'm making choices that honor God and take care of the body He's given me. Sometimes confidence comes before the results.
Answers and Next Steps
Last week, I called my doctor and asked if we could do some additional lab work because I just felt like there had to be something more going on. The results came back and answered several questions: my cholesterol is high, and my TSH is also elevated, which means I have an underactive thyroid. Like most people, I immediately started researching what that meant. As I read through the symptoms—fatigue, unexplained weight gain, feeling cold even when everyone else is comfortable, dry skin, thinning hair, and brain fog—I couldn't help but nod my head.
Am I excited about another diagnosis? No. But I am relieved to finally have some answers. For months, I've questioned whether I was doing something wrong and wondered why my body wasn't responding the way it used to. Now I know there may have been something working against me that I didn't even know about. That doesn't mean I stop trying; it simply means I work with my doctor to figure out the best way forward. Now my focus is on getting my cholesterol under control and learning how to manage my thyroid. Whatever changes I need to make, I'm willing to make them because this journey has never been just about losing weight. It's about honoring God with my body, taking care of the temple He's entrusted to me, and becoming healthier so I can better serve Him, love my family well, and enjoy the life He's blessed me with. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
A Journey, Not a Race
I don't understand everything that's happening with my body, but I trust the One who created it. As I look back over the last month, I realize that even though the scale didn't move, God was still working. He gave me the strength to get back into a routine after being sick, He reminded me how much I enjoy walking, He restored some of the confidence I thought I had lost, and He provided answers through my doctor that help explain why this journey has felt so difficult. He continues to remind me that this isn't a race—it's a journey that He's walking with me every step of the way.
Thank you for continuing to follow along, encourage me, and pray for me. Please continue praying that I'll make wise decisions concerning my health and that I'll stay consistent in honoring God with my body. And if you're on your own health journey, I'd love to hear from you. Whether you have advice, encouragement, a prayer request, or simply want to share your story, please leave a comment below. I'd be honored to pray for you too.
Application
Health journeys rarely follow a straight path. There are setbacks, unexpected diagnoses, and seasons when it feels like nothing is changing. But don't let the scale become the only measure of progress. Celebrate healthier habits, renewed hope, and the confidence that comes from knowing you're caring for the body God has given you. Remember, even when you can't see the progress, God is still at work.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your faithfulness through every part of this journey. Thank You for walking beside me in the victories, the disappointments, the unanswered questions, and now the answers You are beginning to provide. Help me to continue honoring You with my body, even when progress feels slow or the path changes unexpectedly. Give me wisdom as I work with my doctor, discipline to make healthier choices, and patience as I learn to care for the body You've entrusted to me. Thank You for giving me hope again. Thank You for the blessing of walking alongside my husband, for the confidence You're restoring, and for reminding me that You are still working even when I can't yet see the results. Lord, strengthen every woman reading this who may be discouraged in her own health journey. Remind her that You see her, You know her struggles, and You are faithful to walk with her every step of the way. May everything we do—even the way we care for our bodies—bring glory to You. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
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