His Compassions Never Fail

So, I'm introducing a new segment here on the blog, "Memory Mondays."  See, since I did not start blogging about this journey until I had already lost quite a bit, I feel like you, my faithful readers, missed out on a lot of the anguish and celebration in the first 80 pounds.  In what will hopefully be a recurring feature on the blog, I'm going to look back at certain events, turning points, experiences, etc. that I had along the way and see what I learned from them. One thing that will make this more difficult is that I have a horrible memory, but I'll take my best shot at it. Here's the first addition of Memory Mondays, which is particularly appropriate today, which is my third straight day of poor eating habits. Tomorrow is a new day.

One Sunday, early in my journey (read: last fall) and after a particularly bad weekend of eating, I was quieter than usual at Bighouse, our church’s weekly youth group meeting, where I am a small group leader for a group of amazing high school girls.  When the band began to play and students and adults around me were praising God for his blessings, I drew to the back of the group to be alone in my sulking. 

It was there that my friend Stephanie H. found me.  She asked if I was okay, because she is used to seeing me up front, dancing and singing loudly off-key.  Before I knew it, I started crying and spilled out everything, how I was trying to diet and how it was so hard.  How I had messed up again and how afraid I was of failing, since that was the only outcome I’d ever known when it came to dieting. She listened, she empathized and she prayed for me. The next day, she posted Lamentations 3:22-23 on my Facebook. It says, “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Just being able to confess and discuss my anguish over it helped, but this verse helped even more. It’s something I’ve brought with me on the journey ever since.  When I have messed up and I am despairing about the mistakes I’ve made, I try to remember this verse. Each day is a new set of challenges and a new opportunity to succeed at my goals, and because of the Lord’s love, faithfulness and compassion for me, I am able to try again.

If you're trying to change something, and get easily discouraged by failed attempts, I hope this verse will encourage you.  Write it down and put it somewhere you will see it regularly.