I’ve always thought of myself as tenacious. I’ll fight for things I want or know are important. So, my realization tonight was difficult. I was watching a show about an interesting method a physical trainer used to help someone lose weight. To be empathetic, the trainer gained weight and then had to lose it alongside the person he was training. It’s reminiscent of Christ coming as a man to live the life we couldn’t live. Back to the story, but it’s a cool parallel to draw.

In one of his conversations with the person he was training, he said something that struck me. After being so motivated initially and encouraged by the trainer as his teammate, the man felt discouraged and lacked motivation to keep fighting the good fight for himself. He could fight for someone else; he could fight when the trainer was beside him encouraging him, but when he was alone, the truth was there wasn’t any fight left in him. The trainer told him that when he made a promise to himself, he needed to walk in integrity and keep it. He needed to be motivated in himself and for himself. That’s a lot easier said than done.

Watching this exchange struck me because I struggle in the exact same way. There are certain disciplines or goals I’ve had because I know I need to be healthier, whether physically or financially. I find myself constantly sabotaging myself or doubting that I can be my best self. I make promises to myself, and I don’t keep them. Sometimes I’ll joke and say that I’m a great starter and motivator, but when it comes to follow-through, well, that just doesn’t always happen. It’s not something I like to admit about myself, but it’s true. Watching them in their exchange made me realize why. I haven’t operated in my life in a way that shows I value myself. I honestly don’t like myself most of the time, so why would I bother to keep promises to myself?

Why would I write about this? It does cast me in a very positive light. Still I know I can’t possibly be the only one who feels this way or struggles with these feelings. It isn’t just me and that man on the show who struggle with keeping promises to ourselves or seeing ourselves as valuable and worthy. I’m sure we won’t be the last either. So, I want to speak some truths for those of you who, like me, find yourselves struggling to love yourself and keep promises to yourself.

First, you need to understand your value. We are not worthy or valuable because there is anything about us that is lovely, good, or special. We are valuable because God values us. Although He shouldn’t, but for some amazing reason, He valued and loved us so much that He paid the price of His only son’s life. He values us so much that He sent His spirit to dwell in us, empower us, and comfort us. He values us so much that He knows the number of hairs on our head, every thought and word we’ll ever think or say, our true name, and He’s calling us to be His. To Him, we are treasures beyond price.

Not only does God value us, but He’s also strengthened us for the journey. I don’t have to accomplish goals or keep promises to myself in my own strength. I can lean on Him to support me. I can live and operate in wisdom, which He has given me, so I can accomplish the goals I’m setting for myself to be healthier in all areas of my life. Not only has He given me strength of my own spirit, but He’s also given me the strength of the entire body of Christ with other believers who will support and encourage me. It’s my choice to reach out and borrow that strength if needed. I can confidently say that I know there will be times when I will need to ask for support..

Greater still, we have been given grace. Part of the reason why follow-through often fails for me is because I’m human. I’ll make a mistake and do that activity I promised myself I wouldn’t do or eat that piece of cake I know I shouldn’t. In shame, I’ll beat myself up over it and then think, well, the cat’s out of the bag, so it doesn’t matter; I wasn’t going to succeed anyway. Basically, after one failure, instead of persevering, I’ll give up. Life is full of opposition; every single day we face challenges of every kind. It would be easy, in the face of challenges and our own failures, to throw our hands up and say, what’s the point? I kind of think of it like this: someone standing in the middle of their dirty kitchen and throwing their hands up, saying, well, forget it, I’m not going to clean any more dishes because they’re only going to get dirty again. We would never do that because, well, you’d probably die from some disease you contracted by using the dirty dishes, and you need clean dishes, so even though they’re going to get dirty again, you still clean them. You have to persevere to maintain a healthy environment in your home while disciplining yourself for cleanliness.

We also have to persevere in many other areas of our lives. Choosing disciplined financial choices so we don’t end up with mountains of debt and frustration. Living disciplined when it comes to food and nutrition so we can maintain these bodies that are the temples of the Holy Spirit to minister for Christ more effectively. Finally, disciplining our minds to continue studying and learning from God so we can grow spiritual and become maturity believers. I know you want me to tell you that growth just happens with the snap of the fingers or an abraka-Jesus, as I heard my Pastor say on Sunday. But it doesn’t. Instead, all growth comes through perseverance, through endurance despite the challenges we face. Discipline is not given; it is earned through time and practice. We have to clean the dishes in life even though we know that we will have to do it every day, over and over again.

I’m thankful for these truths that can encourage me to keep promises I make to myself because I know it is not easy and it probably will never be. However, it is worth it to keep promises that I am endeavoring and challenging myself with, such as maturing as a believer, taking care of the body and temple that God has given me, having a balanced and productive life, and not overloading myself with undue burdens. I wonder what your pain points are. Where is God calling you to persevere and live a disciplined life?

What is not going to happen is that I get up tomorrow and I’m magically transformed into someone who finds it easy to live a disciplined life and always follow through. It won’t happen magically for you either. What we will both find, though, is that with continued perseverance and endurance, while holding on to the truth of the value we have through Christ Jesus and the strength we can lean on in Him, we can succeed; we can follow through to the end. One day at a time, one step at a time, one more promise kept at a time, and no matter how many times I might fall, I’ll get up, brush myself off, and keep going. I hope you will do the same. He who endures to the end will win the prize. I don’t know about you, but it’s time to win, one challenge at a time, yes, but ultimately victory.

Scriptures: James 1:3, Lam. 3:22-24, Phil. 1:6