Slipping on my robe, I suddenly froze with a new realization. The robe, which had once been tight and uncomfortable, now fit, and even felt loose. This is one of those non-scale victories. 

For several months I’ve worked at getting back to a healthier weight and lifestyle. I purposely decided against using the scale to measure my success because I tend to give it too much power. If the number goes down as I expect, I’ve succeeded. If it doesn’t, I’ve failed. So I didn’t use the scale at all.

But after weeks of no visible progress, I knew I needed to make some changes. So I enrolled in an online fitness program which included a personal coach. This program tooted the merits of weighing ourselves daily. As we see the normal daily fluctuations in our weight, we will no longer fear the scale. Or so their philosophy states.

I tried. And I did notice that my weight gradually decreased over time. But the daily fluctuations unnerved me. One day’s loss could easily be reversed the next day. My coach sent me articles proving that overnight weight gain is almost always water. (Who knew it takes 2 pounds of water to balance 400 mg of sodium?) 

To help me handle the daily weight fluctuations, my coach encouraged me to look for non-scale victories. But I couldn’t see them. All I could see was that number on the scale which refused to cooperate. 

I’m reminded of an event in the life of King David. For forty days a Philistine giant named Goliath taunted the army of Israel. None of the Israelite soldiers, including King Saul, dared to fight against him (1 Samuel 17:8-11). 

David, too young to be a soldier, brought provisions to his brothers on the battle line. Hearing the jeers of the Philistine giant, David offered to fight him (1 Samuel 17:20-32). Although David’s youth and inexperience caused the King to initially refuse, he relented and gave David permission (1 Samuel 17:33-37). Next we see this exchange between Saul and David:

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:38-40 NIV).

So David refused Saul’s armor and prevailed against Goliath with a slingshot, five smooth stones, and his faith in God (1 Samuel 17:45-50).  

When I’ve read this story in the past, I’ve focused on David’s decision to trust in God for the victory, instead of in his own ability, or in the armor offered by King Saul. But today, I noticed something new.

David tried to use Saul’s armor, but it didn’t fit him, physically or spiritually. God created David and Saul differently. What worked for Saul, didn’t for David. And David had enough confidence to choose what worked for him.

My recent experience and David’s story remind me of this truth:

God didn’t create us with a one-size-fits-all model. 

So as we strive to honor God with our lives, we can confidently choose what works best for us, given our different needs and unique situations. With the support of my coach, I now weigh myself every other week. No longer taunted by that number on the scale, I can finally see the non-scale victories. 

Wherever our road leads us next, I pray we confidently choose what works for us as we honor the One who knows us best.