By Keanna Marquez
Most people don’t reach or pursue their goals because there is usually some form of suffering involved and people aren’t willing to suffer even if it means there’s something better for them on the other side.
Think of your goal and the type of suffering that will be involved in order for you to achieve it. Are you willing to face that suffering and the challenges that come along with this goal that you set for yourself?
Chasing your goals and trying to become a better person is not a walk in the park! It is rewarding, but it’s not easy. So, what are you willing to face, what are you willing to endure in order to reach your goals?
What new challenges are you willing to take on this week, month, year, in order to improve your health and wellness, your business, your finances, your marriage, etc? Are you willing to give up eating cake and junk food in order to lose weight? Because that will definitely be a challenge! Are you willing to spend less and work more now so you can save up that money you need to go on vacation, buy a house, or work on your dream future?
Your goals will challenge you, they will require some form of sacrifice, so what are you going to do?
Are you going to rise to the occasion, or complain and give up?
If you choose to pursue your goal, regardless of the challenges, good for you. Now how do we overcome these challenges, how do we endure and overcome all the suffering that’s bound to come? We pray! We turn to our higher power and we ask for strength, we ask for guidance, we ask to be protected from temptation. We remind ourselves, constantly, why we’re going through the struggle in the first place, why we want to reach this goal of ours. Avoid doing things that lead to temptation. If your goal is to save money, don’t go to the mall, if your goal is to lose weight, don’t buy or keep any unhealthy snacks at home! Lastly, have people in your corner that you look up to, that challenge you, and that inspire you and when you’re feeling low, look up to them!
When we’re tempted to sit on the couch and eat junk food, we pray for strength and protection, and we remind ourselves of our fitness goals, maybe we think about someone we look up to and admire and think of the strength and discipline they have which should inspire and encourage us to overcome the current temptations.
Think of the people you admire and go do some research, go read some of the things they had to overcome in order to get to where they are because I’m sure it wasn’t easy! My inspiration this morning came from the Apostle Paul who suffered endlessly in order to spread the Gospel. In 2Corinthians he says, “I was beaten with rods. I was stoned. I was shipwrecked. [I had] many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold exposure. And,… there is daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2Corinthians 11:25-29. Now this is EXTREME suffering, this is how serious and passionate Paul was for the Lord and for his mission! And most of us aren’t even willing to take a long drive to the gym in the morning because it’s too far and too early and too cold outside!
Wake up!!! Compare what you’re facing to what others have endured. Are you doing enough? Overcome your excuses and your desire for comfort!
I suffer all of the time!!! I refrain from eating junk food and from overeating, I hardly ever sleep in, I’m always hungry and craving something sweet, I go to the gym seven days a week, I don’t spend money on myself, but I endure!!! Why? Because I have big goals set for myself and nothing will get in the way of that! How? I read my Bible every morning and constantly listen to worship music which gives me the strength and hope that I need to keep going. I have an incredible husband that motivates and inspires me. I have people around me that I look up to and I look to them when I’m feeling tempted and seeing them reminds me of what my goals are, where I want to be, and I know that if I endure and overcome this temporary suffering, I can be where they are, look like they do, have wealth and abundance like they do.
If you aren’t willing to suffer, then you don’t want your goal bad enough, you aren’t goal-oriented, and you’ll stay stuck where you are forever. I’m not ok with that and I hope you aren’t either.
So, think about your goal(s) again and again, about how awesome it would be to achieve them, how great you’ll feel and what an incredible person you’ll become! Hold onto that hope and that excitement and proceed head-strong, because you know the storm is coming, but you’re ready for it!!!
If you need help while you pursue this goal of yours, help through the growing pains and suffering, I’m here for you! Let me walk with you and be there for you as you face temptation, I can and will get you through to the other side! Until then, happy tracking!