Say No to Comfort Food
I have to confess that for the past few months I have been on a diet, and it hasn’t been going very well. I have lost a few pounds, but not the incredible results I was hoping for. Having ready access to the refrigerator and pantry during this stay at home in order hasn’t really helped either. So, I’m publicly announcing that starting now I will lose those extra pounds. If you are like me, you have tried to lose these same pounds many times, you might ask why now, what makes you think this will be the perfect time? You could say not now, life is so full of stress, why not use food as comfort?
Yes, there are tremendous things going on in our lives that make us fearful; and brings on not only stress eating but thoughts and questions such as
What if my family or friends get sick?
Will I get back to work so I can pay my bills?
When will I ever feel safe again?
But these questions only lead to more worries and as we spiral down, this will power drain; they lead us away from the only thing that can bring genuine comfort. Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us to “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid ... For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” God is our only source of strength, and so what we need to lose is more than weight. We need to lose our fears.
No one wants to get sick or to see a loved one ill, but Romans 8: 38-39 reminds us, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” A wonderful friend said, “If I die or if I live, I am ready for whatever comes.” Her faith wasn’t dependent on her daily situation, it was based on the promise from God. If you and your family believe in the saving grace of Jesus, there is no reason for fear of death or illness. We can celebrate our life and our death because both are a gift. A free gift made by the willing sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. So, you and I can face each day with confidence that our days are in His loving hands.
We all have concerns about money, but we can’t make the accumulation of wealth our only focus. We must remember that God is the supplier of all our needs, and that we owe Him back a portion of all that we have been given. If your family has never taken tithing seriously, I cannot stress how being a regular giver will benefit your life. Your commitment to contribute to the Lord 10% of your income before you pay the government and your bills through the good times and bad, is a significant way to share the many blessings that God has given you. Malachi 3:10 tells us to “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I am not preaching on the value of giving just so you will get more, God is not a get rich quick scheme. But He loves His children, and He wants to bless you when you are being a blessing to others.
Our safety is in Jesus Christ, not our jobs or medicine and doctors. When we learn to lean on Jesus for our needs and stop the endless worries that fill our minds, we will find the path to peace. Psalm 4:8 says “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.” When my children were young, I loved to watch them sleep. They were resting in the peace that comes from trust. In their world all they knew was love, they were sleeping in warm beds with full bellies, the proof of my commitment to provide everything they would need. God is the best of parents, way better than any of us could ever be. We can sleep and trust that although we know all about the troubles in the world, we also know the one who put the stars in the sky also knows your name and mine. We are the children of His heart, so go ahead and be at peace.
My weight may go down it may not but if I keep fooling myself that food brings me comfort, or that worry is the same as really doing something. Well, that my friends is buying into the ideas of the world; and starting today, I am not buying it. In one of my previous careers as a salesman there was one question I would ask, “If not now, when?” If you have put on a few pounds during this stressful time, or like me you put on a few pounds of worry, I challenge you to join me in shedding them. Don’t say I’ll start when things get back to normal, start today to lose those extra pounds and extra fears.