Spiritual experience is a gift, not something to m Spiritual experience is a gift, not something to muster or manufacture. 

If I ever find the guts to get a tattoo, it would be this. A constant reminder of true reality:

I am saved, kept and loved based on objective facts and grounded in a perfect person, Christ, never my subjective feelings and circumstances and abilities. 

Tim Keller says, “what makes you a Christian is Jesus’ work, not what goes on inside you.”

Experiencing God is not a requirement to live life with Him, but it is a sweet gift and worthy of hungering for. 

Grace through faith. Everything. Always.
✨ Her — only wants to eat cheese, most of the ✨

Her — only wants to eat cheese, most of the time walks on her tiptoes, loves playing with the car seat straps, chews on her finger constantly, has the best smile, learning more words and pushing boundaries something serious

Me — not sure what to do with her wild hair, getting creative with God on recharging in moments that aren’t so relaxing, using every minute of nap time for design work and loving it and becoming a bit obsessive with walking our quiet driveway
Some days you wonder how it could be this awesome Some days you wonder how it could be this awesome and other days she keeps trying to eat rocks and you don’t brush your teeth until 3 o’clock. 

Solidarity, parents.
@themasters weekend @themasters weekend
#Repost @allthecounterthings
・・・
(cue ‘I’m So Excited’ by The Pointer Sisters)

One of my biggest giveaways to date!

I believe in @beautycounter, even to gift some GREAT things so that you’ll try them for yourself that they may serve you. 

It’s @themasters Friday, and in my city that means an exciting few days is ahead. 

May it be so with your clean beauty swapping!
(Until April 17th. 😊)

Need suggestions or a guide around the website? Message me or click the link in my bio to take a skincare quiz or to find your right foundation shade or to request samples. 

I’m here to help! And I can’t WAIT to gift someone this box of goodness. 

peep @emeraldoxco amazing coffee
What a joy to spend the morning with the beautiful What a joy to spend the morning with the beautiful @ashtonquattlebaum. 

We knew each other in middle/high school, now we’re adults and because of Beautycounter, reconnecting and working and dreaming together.

HOW. COOL. 

This is my ‘why’ with Beautycounter — the opportunity to cultivate friendships and help and love women where God has them, connected by clean beauty products.
spotting airplanes and sharing goldfish spotting airplanes and sharing goldfish
#Repost @allthecounterthings ・・・ #preachingt #Repost @allthecounterthings
・・・
#preachingtomyself

When you abide in Christ, when you open yourself to His Spirit’s leading and changing, when you trust and obey Him, your whole being can become ministry.

Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God, do it with God, do it and see people as Jesus saw them, with needs and dreams, and love them. 

I have started more endeavors and realized more dreams in the last year then I think in my entire life. Joining @beautycounter was one of them. 

So I encourage you also — 

Take yourself seriously and not too seriously. Work diligently. Dream big. Be faithful. Have fun. Rest on Jesus. Hold it all with open hands. And enjoy it.
Anna when asked if she wants blueberries or to go Anna when asked if she wants blueberries or to go outside. #Easter2021
  • faith
  • marriage
  • motherhood
  • lifestyle
  • creative
  • books
  • beautycounter
  • Posts
    • Clothe Yourself With
    • Joy Triggers
    • Perspectives
    • Truth To Consider
    • Reading and Listening
  • about me
    • Favorites
  • Design
    • Freebies
  • contact

chelsea eubank

refreshment for the journey

  • Posts
    • Clothe Yourself With
    • Joy Triggers
    • Perspectives
    • Truth To Consider
    • Reading and Listening
  • about me
    • Favorites
  • Design
    • Freebies
  • contact

faith, wellness · 09/15/2017

putting my scale in the attic

It’s amazing how distorted my thinking can be sometimes… in the name of self-discipline, of course.

Body image and the number on the scale is an example of that distorted thinking.

This one was a tough one for me to admit here, honesty time, but I hope and pray it inspires and encourages others toward Jesus.

In the name of good stewardship of my ‘temple,’ being disciplined, and a competent and capable athlete, body image became an ultimate thing for me.

I’ve written about this so many times, and have come a long way thanks to Almighty God, but this time, everything in me has shifted.

Looking back, I see clearly.

I think my near obsession started when I broke my foot in high school. By the grace and coolness of God, I was on a path for collegiate track and field. I had found a knack for hurdles and I was super passionate about it.

But when I broke my foot, I began thinking about how I needed to change my habits if I wanted to recover well and stay strong. I started monitoring what I ate, prioritizing exercise however I could do it. My mom bought me a scuba sleeve thing for my cast so I could swim! I made many friends at the YMCA because I was the girl on crutches who hobbled around the upper body machines. Wowzers.

When I arrived at Georgia Southern and began training with the team, my injury persisted.

3 years of surgeries and rehabilitation. One season of actual competition, not even in my event! Hurdles were out of the question because of my now prone-to-injury-three-screws foot. Major bummer.

These were the years my obsession with my body started growing. College sports are competitive; we were on specific diets and working out every day of the week but Sunday. Expectations were put on me that I had never experienced before. But since I always felt like I was “coming from behind” because of my injury, I threw myself into body management, an idol that snuck in because it was what was expected of me as a collegiate runner.

Certain foods were moralized, being ‘bad’ and off-limits, because I couldn’t run off the extra, and I needed to stay in the best shape I could, even being on crutches after or walking in the boot because of the pain. I desperately wanted to compete and be a part of the team.

The number on the scale became the measure.

Measure of how I was doing, measure of how strong my will was, measure of how much I wanted to succeed, measure of how good I could be. And the interesting thing is, in that environment, it’s normal! Of course, coaches want their athletes to perform well, to succeed, and to stay strong; body composition is good information to know.

 


It wasn’t until I graduated from college and got married: I still believe the number on the scale is the dictator of those things.

It consumed my mind, wrestling with what health culture deemed “best” to eat versus enjoying what God provided for me, overexercising to control what I was putting in, hyperawareness of how I appeared to others, and the number of the scale.

It took a lot of heart breaking (in God’s gracious, loving way) to change my mindset. It took a great deal of crying out and surrendering my will to find true freedom. I taste it, and it is good. He is good.

 


 

God helped me uncover the lies I was believing.

The lie that to be loved one needs to have a certain type of body. The lie that to be accepted one needs to eat a particular diet. The lie that health looks the same for everyone. The lie that being good, whole, and healthy means weighing X, exercising like Y, and prioritizing Z.

When all that became clear to me, the pressure began to lift.

But, there was one more thing: the scale. An average household item.

For a long time, the scale’s number held the power to determine my attitude, my thoughts, my priorities.

I allowed a number to inform me if I was good enough — a number that changes frequently, a number that has no connection to how God loves me, or how I adore Him.

For those of you who have battled or currently battle with this, you know how difficult it can be to believe God’s Truth over something I feel or the world says.

But His Truth is our lifeline. What He says in the Bible, and to us personally, is our guidepost, our firm foundation to walk, run, and play on.

 


 

What I know now? I don’t need that number.

That number doesn’t help me love Jesus more. It doesn’t help produce fruit of God’s Spirit in my life. It doesn’t strengthen me to choose faith instead of fear.

What does the number do? It takes me down to a playing field that I don’t even want to be on. It causes me to live looking at myself instead of looking at God. And, it invites all kinds of temptation to compare myself to other children of God in a way that God is not pleased with or glorified by.

And that’s our life goal, isn’t it? I know I want it to be my single-minded devotion: to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. To know Him personally and to make His greatness, love, and mercy known. And to love everyone around me as if they were family, because in Christ, they are. 

If I’m stuck on a number that really doesn’t add value to my life or my eternity, it needs to go.

If the number on the scale is stopping you from freedom, joy, confidence, and hope in life? Take it to Jesus. Ask Him to change your heart, and then be ready when He does, haha, because He will.

 


 

The scale is going in the attic. Because it’s not helpful to me, and it’s a hindrance to my heart being completely filled with God. Sure, I’ll always be an active person who genuinely loves salad. I’ll adventure with my husband and friends, and take care of myself, but not because a number on a scale tells me I should be more or less. 

But because it’s a joy to maintain, embrace, and give from how God tailor-made me.

I’d love to talk with you, email me heartnatured@gmail.com. :)

In: faith, wellness · Tagged: body image, fresh start, grace

receive posts to your inbox

You’ll Also Love

from ‘religiously right’ to Jesus, only Jesus
one of the best habits we can cultivate
chronic pain: exchanging my brokenness for God’s wholeness

Comments

  1. Carolann says

    09/19/2017 at 10:25 am

    I struggle with this so much. Some days, I feel like I can accept and love my body the way it is. Other days, I feel like I need to weigh myself and diet. I’ve noticed a lot of changes in my body as I’ve gotten older. For years I’ve been trying to get back into the clothes from when my body looked different. Instead of trying to get back to what I looked like 5 years ago, I started buying clothes that flatter how I look now, and that has made a huge difference.

  2. Chelsea B.E. says

    09/19/2017 at 8:12 pm

    I love that, Carolann! The thoughtful, mindful choices for your body shape and type. Finding your own type of beautiful and owning it. Inspiring, sister.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Redefining Ordinary

I'm Chelsea... a wife, mom and friend who enjoys all things peanut butter, clean beauty, the written word, and a good sports movie. This is my place to share real life and Biblical encouragement to draw us all to deeper joy in God. Pull up your favorite internet browser and stay awhile!

Search

Time Machine

Series

  • Clothe Yourself With
  • Joy Triggers
  • Perspectives
  • Truth To Consider
  • Current Read
  • Reading and Listening
Spiritual experience is a gift, not something to m Spiritual experience is a gift, not something to muster or manufacture. 

If I ever find the guts to get a tattoo, it would be this. A constant reminder of true reality:

I am saved, kept and loved based on objective facts and grounded in a perfect person, Christ, never my subjective feelings and circumstances and abilities. 

Tim Keller says, “what makes you a Christian is Jesus’ work, not what goes on inside you.”

Experiencing God is not a requirement to live life with Him, but it is a sweet gift and worthy of hungering for. 

Grace through faith. Everything. Always.
✨ Her — only wants to eat cheese, most of the ✨

Her — only wants to eat cheese, most of the time walks on her tiptoes, loves playing with the car seat straps, chews on her finger constantly, has the best smile, learning more words and pushing boundaries something serious

Me — not sure what to do with her wild hair, getting creative with God on recharging in moments that aren’t so relaxing, using every minute of nap time for design work and loving it and becoming a bit obsessive with walking our quiet driveway
Some days you wonder how it could be this awesome Some days you wonder how it could be this awesome and other days she keeps trying to eat rocks and you don’t brush your teeth until 3 o’clock. 

Solidarity, parents.
@themasters weekend @themasters weekend
#Repost @allthecounterthings
・・・
(cue ‘I’m So Excited’ by The Pointer Sisters)

One of my biggest giveaways to date!

I believe in @beautycounter, even to gift some GREAT things so that you’ll try them for yourself that they may serve you. 

It’s @themasters Friday, and in my city that means an exciting few days is ahead. 

May it be so with your clean beauty swapping!
(Until April 17th. 😊)

Need suggestions or a guide around the website? Message me or click the link in my bio to take a skincare quiz or to find your right foundation shade or to request samples. 

I’m here to help! And I can’t WAIT to gift someone this box of goodness. 

peep @emeraldoxco amazing coffee
What a joy to spend the morning with the beautiful What a joy to spend the morning with the beautiful @ashtonquattlebaum. 

We knew each other in middle/high school, now we’re adults and because of Beautycounter, reconnecting and working and dreaming together.

HOW. COOL. 

This is my ‘why’ with Beautycounter — the opportunity to cultivate friendships and help and love women where God has them, connected by clean beauty products.
spotting airplanes and sharing goldfish spotting airplanes and sharing goldfish
#Repost @allthecounterthings ・・・ #preachingt #Repost @allthecounterthings
・・・
#preachingtomyself

When you abide in Christ, when you open yourself to His Spirit’s leading and changing, when you trust and obey Him, your whole being can become ministry.

Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God, do it with God, do it and see people as Jesus saw them, with needs and dreams, and love them. 

I have started more endeavors and realized more dreams in the last year then I think in my entire life. Joining @beautycounter was one of them. 

So I encourage you also — 

Take yourself seriously and not too seriously. Work diligently. Dream big. Be faithful. Have fun. Rest on Jesus. Hold it all with open hands. And enjoy it.
Anna when asked if she wants blueberries or to go Anna when asked if she wants blueberries or to go outside. #Easter2021
I love what our pastor said this morning — If it I love what our pastor said this morning — If it was just the cross, we’d be a bunch of forgiven corpses. We have been saved TO something, the richest and fullest of life, in Christ, forever. 

May we be courageous people who know real hope and endurance in the sorrow of life and real gratitude and wonder in the good of it.

Listening

  • Knowing Faith
  • Home Fires
  • Gospel In Life
  • Be The Bridge

Your skin is your body's largest organ. How are you caring for it?

Let's talk clean beauty.

Reading

  • Isabel Wilkerson
  • Adam Alter
  • Elisabeth Elliot
  • Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson

Copyright © 2021 chelsea eubank · Theme by 17th Avenue