Why Are Goals and Resolutions So Hard to Achieve?

A couple of years ago, our family returned home from what we considered a life-changing vacation. Once a year, we take time away to evaluate our lives and set new goals for the coming year. This vacation was especially revealing and transformative. God had shown me very tangibly His peace in the midst of the storm. But only six days after returning home, I found myself gripped with a humble reality. Returning to our lives meant returning to the brokenness we can't escape from. Returning to the habits that define us, good or bad. On this day, I realized that to pursue the goals I'd set, I needed transformative change and real intention.

Well, God must have really wanted to answer my prayer to change me because the next day, I was stopped dead in my tracks in a moment of mindless spending. I think God allows these moments regularly in my life for the sole purpose of humbling me. I was paying for three shirts at H&M for my husband, and they were even on sale and seemed a necessity at the time, so it was ok, right? I wasn't even shopping for me, or the kids, which I felt was a win. But when I went to pay, my visa was declined. I thought their machine must be broken since I usually have a handle on our finances. I tried to use the pin instead of the tap, and it declined again. That's when the embarrassment set in. But I remembered His peace is always available, so I took a moment to silently ask for it, and you know what? It worked. It was there with me in H&M, but it did not blot out the embarrassment. So, I calmly and trying to somewhat explain to the uncaring 20 something cashier, pulled out another card, paid, and left.  

That day was a prime example of choosing the comfort of habit over forging a new path. I recall my conscience kicking in to remind me that this was no longer how I wanted to spend my time, but I ignored it and proceeded with habit. I knew I had failed before I had even just begun. Have you ever had that feeling? Have you asked yourself what do you do now?  

I called our credit card company to find out they had only just put a security hold on my card five minutes before! She went through, and sure enough, my card had been compromised, which meant I would be unable to use it for the next week. I was frustrated, but it was like being splashed in the face with cold water. I was reminded of why I wanted to change the way I spent my time and money.

When I arrived home, I wanted to push the new way aside and submit to failure, but something stopped me. A glass lantern I had partly filled with shells and a piece of coral from the beach from this vacation caught my eye on my way up the stairs. It stood as a reminder of the goals I had made for this year and why, and then I started to cry. How could I keep trying when I was so quick to fall into my old ways? I then did what I should have done the moment I left the store; I stopped and talked to God. I acknowledged that I had failed and less than a week in! You know what? I expected Him to release me of this new way of living I had been determined to pursue, but instead, I felt forgiveness, compassion, and an encouragement to get back up and walk in this new way. He would help me learn how to spend my time and money differently.

So, how do we change so we can attain our goals?  When trying to change the way we do something, whether it's our eating, drinking, shopping, sleeping, parenting, etc., we cannot do it alone. We need God and His Spirit to help us. It's also beneficial to have reminders of your goals on your phone and around the house. And what do you do when you fail, because likely you will? Go to God, ask for forgiveness and His help and then with His strength, not your own, get back up and try again.

I am not expecting to fulfill my goals for my life this year perfectly, but I am committing to go to God and ask forgiveness when I fail and then allow Him to help me get back on track again. Be encouraged to get back up and try to reach your goals when you fail this year. If God has put a new way of living on your heart, He will give you the strength and grace to pursue it. Our brokenness will never go away, but the goal of a better life in Christ is always worth the effort. And the learning and humility you experience on that road will transform you no matter what. Now it's time for God to help you crush some goals!!