Past Into Purpose Story Series – Post 3

This series is intended to introduce you to the women on the Your Life Still Counts Contributor Team whose inspiring stories of pain into purpose were selected for inclusion in the book.  To read the full story of each contributor, click here to purchase your copy of Your Life Still Counts and be inspired to allow God to turn your past into your purpose too.

PLEASE MEET DIANA

DIANA

Diana Rockwell lives in Ramona, California, and volunteers on a Freedom in Christ ministry team as a trained encourager. She helps women facing marital problems, sexual abuse, or occult issues. Diana prays for people who are struggling with their weight and helps them work toward victory over their weight issue. She has also taught women’s Bible studies andshared her testimony in Nazareth on a mission trip to Israel where several people came to know Christ as a result.

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MY INTERVIEW WITH DIANA

Me: What made you want to contribute your story to Your Life Still Counts?

Diana: I have to admit, I’ve been a fan of yours since I read Stressed Less Living. I received your blog post and studied Stress Less Living through the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies,  so the day I read your blog sharing that you were  going to write a new book and would be looking for stories that revealed God’s work in someone’s life, I felt like a light was shining down from heaven and that God would finally use my long time battle with weight to help someone else. I had a similar time in my life and that was when I was chosen to go to Israel to share my testimony with Global Missions Fellowship. I did hesitate because I have struggled with rejection in my life and I had not really shared with many my choice to have weight loss surgery. But as the deadline for submission drew near, I knew I needed to submit my story.

Me: That is so awesome Diana – how God orchestrated situations in your life in perfect timing and spoke to your heart about sharing your story.  So since that time, how has God opened doors for you to do ministry or touch other’s hearts?

Diana: With the acceptance of my story for your book, it’s like I came out of hiding. I had been writing a blog under an anonymous name, and it was as if God just said “Diana, you don’t need to hide anymore. I don’t want you to hide anymore.” So  I started my new blog and I started blogging for God, as myself.   The blog is called Fearfully and Wonderfully Made and the link is https://diana2rockwell.com.  Because of being a part of Your Life Still Counts Contributor Group, I have been inspired to write and met other bloggers who also allowed me to post on their blogs as well.

The truth is,  I have been so depressed for a long time, so much so that I had been afraid to share; afraid that I would be criticized for my choice to have weight loss surgery (gastric sleeve); afraid that I would fail and regain my weight as I have in the past and I didn’t want to be a failure.  But now I tell my story, not full of pride, but full of God, because I now know He can use even a weight loss to glorify Him. I no know I am living proof of Romans 8:28 because I recognize that He used this weight struggle to bring good to me and glory to HIm.

Me: I think a lot of women struggle with that fear – that others will judge them for their weight, or their choices for how to manage or lose the weight. I know your transparency will speak into the hearts of women who need to courage to do what their heart is telling them, and courage to be confident in their choices no matter what.  So how has God blessed you in a special way for your obedience in sharing your story and being a part of YLSC?

Diana: I feel so blessed. I have met twenty amazing women to begin with, on the Your Life Still Counts Contributor Team, and my friendship that has blossomed with so many of these women brings humble tears to my eyes.  God continues to bring me opportunities to share this book.

Me: Do you have one example of how God has used your story recently to impact someone’s heart or life?

Diana: My story has brought me closer to a peer at work who because of my success, she decided to have the surgery which has brought healing from obesity in her life. Also, I gave a copy of the book to a physician that I work with and she was so touched that she hugged me, then shared with me that I am a reflection of God’s love when I am at work. Such a blessing, Also, I am meeting weekly with another woman who needs to lose weight and I feel God is bringing healing to her life and using me to speak into truth and hope into her heart.

Me: Have you felt called recently to do anything new, like a new project or ministry endeavor?

Diana: In addition to writing on my new blog, I daily ask the Lord to help me know who needs unconditional love, and I have shared my story many times to patients at the hospital where I work. My new ministry endeavor is that I am a discussion leader for Victory Over The Darkness, and in January we will study Bondage Breaker. I have not been in ministry other than serving as an encourager because my weight was a hindrance. But above all,  I am most excited about being a new Proverbs 31 ministry small group leader.

Me: What are you most passionate about right now?

Diana: I am most passionate about sharing Christ and I hope and pray my story continues to open doors to share the gospel, because . I know God has answered my prayers and healed my obesity. I am now in awe that God is using this testimony.  I am so thankful for His grace and that God met me where I was broken and made me beautiful.  I truly am fearfully and wonderfully made, and am in awe of His Grace.

Me: How might people pray for you at this time in your life?

Diana: I still have some health issues, mainly headaches but I am hopeful that God will heal me of this pain. I do live with chronic pain every day. But I pray T=that God will bring hurting women into my life and that in 2015 I will have a group of women to lead through Your Life Still Counts. Most importantly, I pray that my testimony will glorify God.

Me: I love your heart for the Lord Diana, and it is such a blessing to see how passionate you are about allowing God to use your past for your purpose.  What about that is most exciting to you?

Diana: I am most excited that God took my pain and is using it for good. I am celebrating, that loose skin and all, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am beautiful inside and out, no matter what. I am a temple of the Holy Spirit. God does use all things – even obesity – for good for me who was called to His purpose, and to glorify Him.  I can live out my freedom in Christ because I am free from condemnation and beautiful in His eyes. I hope that is the message God of my life, that God truly can turn your past into a beautiful future and that we are all free to celebrate the goodness in our life.

If you’d like to learn more about Diana, you can visit her blog at Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.  To email Diana directly, please contact her at blessingsrockwell@gmail.com. To read her story in Your Life Still Counts, check out the Her Story section in Chapter Twelve.

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Have you ever struggled with weight, and believing you are valuable and beautiful in God’s eyes?  Ever wondered if your struggle prevented you from being used by God? I’d love to hear how Diana’s story speaks to you today. Leave a comment with your thoughts about this post and how God used it to speak to your heart. If you have any encouragement to share with others struggling with weight and the challenge to recognize your value in Christ while believing you have divine purpose, please do share!

Weight is a very common struggle among women today and we need each other’s support and encouragement!   

8 Comments

  1. Barbie on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 11:40 am

    Thank you for sharing a bit of your story here Diana. Looking forward to reading the rest. So thankful our paths crossed through blogging. You are a greater encourager in my life.



    • Katie on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 12:24 pm

      I was touched by Diana’s story. I too have fought with weight problems my entire life. I lost 102 lbs & then I’ve gained back 93 lb. I’m lifetime Weight Watchers & have lost 14 of those pounds . I will follow your blog Diana. God bless you!



      • Diana Rockwell on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 9:48 pm

        Thank you Katie…..One day at a time. My friend. Blessings Diana



    • Diana+Rockwell on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 9:47 pm

      Barbie Thanks for your support. Love you my friend. Blessings Diana



  2. Sharon+C. on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 6:26 pm

    I saw Diane’s story and I immediately wanted to write to her. I felt she had an understanding about weight and has overcome it. I’ve had weight issues my whole life. I came from an abusive family and candy was my comfort. I have tried so many diet plans that are out there and I’m still overweight, to the point that I’ve damaged my health permanently. I have become very OCD over diet issues. The worse was almost 12 years ago I had a gastric bypass that went wrong. I wound up in a coma on life support. I was in ICU a very long time and almost died many times. Everyone but God and my husband knew I wasn’t going to make it. So far to date I’ve had about 23 complication surgeries because of the first botched job. I used to be very active in volunteer work but having these last 7 surgeries in 4 years has left me with no energy or get up and go. The same part is that even going through all this I regained and don’t want anyone to see me. Because of my mal-absorption problem I have to try and take a lot of vitamins when I can afford them. I’ve also had 9 nose surgeries. The last one the doctor tried to rebuild my nose but due to the vitamin problem it died inside and is much worse now. I stay a lot in my bedroom under a humidifier and vaporizer to be able to breathe. My nose is deteriorating where if you saw my profile you’d think someone had took a bat and hit me in the face. Also because I haven’t been able to keep calcium and Vit. D in my system my bone, gums and implants have come. I went to two different doctors and one said they could rebuild everything for $40,000 and another one priced it at $20,000. I hate dentures and this would be a dream of mine. I finally found a doctor that would take me as a patient. He has done a lot of my surgeries. He tells me that it’s getting difficult to fix me. He’s had to take so many things out because of infections. I know God has a purpose for me but I haven’t found out yet. Right now I need to lose about 60 lbs. to feel and look good. I know this is long so I’ll quit, Do you think you can help me? I take pain pills for the physical pain but it doesn’t work on the heart pain. My medical bills are getting pretty close to $2 million. Fortune ally most of that is covered by insurance. We did lose our house and jobs. My husband about 6 years go found out he was a diabetic. Thanks for listening.



    • Diana Rockwell on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      Sharon, my heart breaks for the problems you have had in relationship to your journey. I am so sorry that you are struggling. I would love to stay in touch with you. If I can be of encouragement, I am here for you. I am a nurse who has seen patients with similar concerns that you have listed. I have made progress in my journey and food is no longer my idol. I am here for you, please email me at blessingsrockwell@gmail.com . God is using your journey because of the people you meet as you have hope they wonder what is the source of your hope. Blessings my friend. Diana Rockwell



  3. laura on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    So needed this….food is my idol. I know I go to food than God…Thank you for sharing your story, Diana. God bless.



    • Diana Rockwell on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 11:53 am

      Laura, thanks for your words of encouragement. God is so good. He is the only one that can handle our emotional pain that makes us run to food for comfort. 2 Timothy 1:7 I did not give you a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind. Blessings Diana



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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