I was tired—of eating half a protein bar, of missing my daily protein target, and mostly, of the nonsense in my head.

I’d seen a guy on YouTube survive on protein bars for a week. Impressive? Maybe. Smart? Debatable. But I figured I could at least finish one. Just 12 grams of protein. Easy snack. Right?

Wrong.

What started as a “quick bite” turned into a mental fog. I wanted to stay “composed” for a surprise event my wife planned, but in the process, I checked out. I wasn’t fully there. My body showed up, but my brain apparently stayed home consuming distractions.

But here’s the truth: it wasn’t about the bar. It was about the mindset. I wasn’t feeding my body—I was feeding avoidance. That bar was a crunchy little symbol of my attempt to manage discomfort with focus on food instead of faith.

Then came the wake-up call. Pastor Diego Mesa, a guest speaking at my Church (July 28, 2024), dropped this line: “God’s not through with you yet.” Oof. Conviction served.

And this gem: “The breakthrough is closer than you think.”

Right there, I knew. The bar wasn’t the enemy. My fear of uncertainty was. So I chose to face it—head-on. Two days later, I resolved not to return to that old pattern. I expected to be tested. And I was. But tests are proof that growth is underway.

Lesson? Don’t panic. Stay the course. And sometimes, just throw the bar away.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”—Galatians 6:9 (CSB)