Tests Always Come

"I'm giving up Monday," said Joe as he munched into a Big Mac and fries -- staunchly committed he was to giving up junk food. His weight had ballooned to personal record levels and he knew that at age 35 he needed to rein in his deplorable health habits sooner rather than later -- he was beyond depression -- he was inspired to start afresh and reverse his spiralling health and halt the crisis.

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Monday came and it was looking good for Joe. He got off to a flying start having planned his diet and exercise programs meticulously, and having arranged an accountability partner and set goals, he looked the goods. He advocated the old mantra, 'the program works if you work the program.' Resolve was his.

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Then, at about the half-way mark, two months in, Joe's enthusiasm and passion waned slightly. He begin to 'treat himself' to a Big Mac on Friday nights and would occasionally miss the gruelling workouts that had contributed to his success in shedding 10 kilograms. After all, he felt he deserved these little concessions having done so well. Wrong -- he couldn't afford them. He should've known the following:

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- Human nature and changing circumstances dictate that the energy and enthusiasm eek away eventually.

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- The true tests come, and usually when least expected. Life is long. Our commitments come short in the fullness of time, and tests of our commitment always occur.

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- We can do well when we always plan for the trials and times when achieving the goal that seemed simple to begin with (when we had lots of enthusiasm and resolve) actually becomes difficult, at times insurmountable.

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Tests always come eventually. We might think we can coast in a new venture, role, or goal, but the fact is the good times always end at some point -- the honeymoon ends and then we have to deal with the cold hard facts of life. Things return to normal. Being prepared and having thought through and kept the tests continually in mind is one way to minimise the shock of them.

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Joe, having thought through to this point, could've been prepared to say, 'No you don't, Joey, don't compromise one little bit until the goal is achieved... and more to the point, stay off the Big Macs, bro!' A healthy and strong resolve should never be taken for granted -- there's an enormous amount of energy, imagination, and effort gone in to produce it. Once it's gone there's no telling when it will return.

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Tests are part mental, emotional, and spiritual. We have to be on our guard.