Freedom

Do you find yourself struggling with food and unable to get free?

I did. For ten years.

My battle against anorexia and bulimia started when I was thirteen. Abusing food was a "release" from the anger and sadness I had let fester for so many years. No matter how long you have been struggling, there is restoration!

God and His word are the only forces capable of not only "handling" our struggles, but they are the only ones able to renew us. Freedom is more than just a reversal of behaviors. It isn’t just "I used to do that, but I don’t anymore; I was going left, now I’m going right."

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 

You see, gobbling up self-help books, switching diets like they were going out of style, trying to be good enough, all of it was on the surface. Not that those things are wrong, but they will never be sufficient. Like my eating problem, the way I approached healing was self-centered: what can I do to make myself better in my own eyes? 

The crux is this… Your Creator knows you better than you know yourself. He knows what makes you tick. He knows what you don’t have and He knows what you need. The beautiful thing is that He is vehemently adamant about pursuing you. He aches to be with you, comfort you, heal you, and make you new for His glory. I highly recommend you read all of Psalm 139, but here’s a short piece to get the point across:

"O Lord, You have looked through me and have known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You understand my thoughts from far away... You know all my ways very well. Even before I speak a word, O Lord, You know it all… All You know is too great for me. It is too much for me to understand… For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Who better to trust than the One who created your inmost being?

I’m sure you’ve heard "treat the sickness, not the symptoms"... what makes an eating disorder, or any sort of struggle, any different? My healing came in the form of believing what my Creator said about me. It meant that He had to change my heart, expose my innermost thoughts and desires. I had to let Him in, and in doing so, I also had to let other people in.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 

I had to talk about it with other Christians. I had to be uncomfortable and vulnerable. I even did the "the ugly cry" in front of people I went to church with. It was weird at first, but the more I talked about it, the more prayers were lifted up for me, the lighter the burden became, the freer I felt, the closer I became to the Healer. His mercy is relentless. His healing is complete. And the Healer had been waiting for me all along; He was waiting for me before the thousands of dollars in dentist bills and doctor visits, before the countless episodes of bingeing and purging, before the sleepless nights. Are you locking Him out of your heart or are you ready to let Him in?

The truth is that we are all sick and broken; it just looks different from person to person. It’s exciting to think that just as our struggles are unique, so is our healing. God will heal you according to your unique personality, your unique past, and your unique future. My encouragement to you is to seek the Healer now. Don’t let your “thing” control you anymore.

Restoration is waiting.

Freedom is yours to take.

Reach out to the One who freely gives it.

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 

"… He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

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If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in a medical crisis, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-(800)-273-8255.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, I highly encourage you to seek help from your church body, a Christian counselor, and your physician. In addition, I recommend visiting Surrendered Hearts Minitries' website. There you will find phenomenal resources, webinars, books, and an online bible-based recovery program. I also suggest downloading the free eBook, the same one that helped kick-start my journey to recovery and finding peace with food and with myself.