Hearing God’s Voice in Emotional Eating
Is it possible that God is trying to speak to you, even in the midst of your emotional eating? He did to me. This is what He said.
As I sat down with the bag of Cheetos, I knew I should have just taken a handful.
It was a long, stressful day. People wanted more from me than I felt like I could give. My best didn’t feel anywhere good enough. I didn’t look the way I wanted to look, I didn’t feel the way I wanted to feel. I longed to be something more, but it seemed I was destined to just be plain ol’ me.
It wasn’t a conscious thing, to eat my way through my emotions, but it’s exactly what I was doing nonetheless.
I needed a break. I needed a distraction.
I needed to feel like I was enough for someone or at least something.
Emotional Eating As A Christian
Cheetos don’t expect me to hold the weight of the world on my shoulders. They don’t demand my time and energy and they don’t start drama.
They’re givers, those brilliantly orange little snacks.
They give me delicious happiness and ask nothing in return. The perfect relationship.
The perfect relationship.
I wanted to feel fulfilled and Cheetos was my drug of choice that night.
They are just so good. Perfectly crunchy, delectably cheesy, and oh-so salty. Taking the whole bag would save me the energy of getting back up for more.
Time-saving and energy efficient? The perfect combination.
So, I took the full bag to the couch. Nobody else was around, so I could eat to my heart’s content without worrying about the judgment from anybody else. No calorie counters, no accountability, no eyes darting back and forth between the quickly emptying bag and the overweight girl in baggy sweatpants shoveling the cheese curls into her mouth.
Printable Bible Verses On Emotional Eating
How Quickly My Emotional Eating Was Out of Control
The first handful was so satisfying. It was everything I wanted it to be. One crunchy morsel at a time, then two, then three.
My speed was picking up by the second handful. With every swallow, I just craved that crunch even more.
The third handful flew by. I’m sure I’d already downed three servings and should’ve slowed down, but my hand and my mouth weren’t listening.
More of a good thing has to be even better, right?
And then I just lost count. All I knew was that I needed just one more handful. Again. And again. And again.
There was no stopping. No pausing. No breaks. I needed to be chewing.
About 3/4 of the way through the bag, I started feeling full.
I even thought about stopping. But I’d already come so far. With only 1/4 of the bag left, it would be silly to stop now.
So, I kept eating. I was getting down to the crumbs and I made a valiant effort to catch each and every one. I dumped the remainder of the bag into my mouth, head tilted back, with a few crunchy little morsels sneakily trying to escape, bouncing off of my cheeks and onto my lap.
Don’t worry, I got them, too.
And then I stared down at the empty bag, with nothing left to chew, and realization set in. I’d just eaten 9 servings, far more than 1,000 calories, in mere minutes.
The neon orange cheese dust that thickly coated my fingers was almost like having blood on my hands from the dreams and goals I’d just killed yet again.
The After-Effects of Overeating
Did I feel satisfied? Nope.
And then the blanket of guilt and shame began to suffocate me.
Well, you’ve done it again. Your willpower ran out and you caved. You’re such a failure. I knew you couldn’t do this weight loss thing. Like you could ever be healthy. You should be so ashamed of yourself. You knew better and you still gave in. You better hide all of the evidence so that nobody else sees what you did because they’ll think less of you than they already do. You’re just proving, yet again, that you really are the fat girl through and through.
And I used to believe every word.
Recognizing God’s Voice
But then…I started listening for another voice.
This voice was not loud or condemning.
It didn’t shout, berate me, or belittle me.
There were no insults hurled in my direction and it didn’t dig up every past mistake I’d ever made just to rub my face in it.
No, this voice was quiet. Still. Small.
Daughter, come closer to me.
It whispered healing gifts of grace and mercy, freely given to me, though I’d done absolutely nothing to deserve them.
You don’t need to beat yourself up over this. I’ve already accepted the punishment for you so you can live in freedom.
It didn’t condone what I’d just done.
The Cheetos didn’t make you feel better. I know they tasted great at first, but let’s find a better lasting solution for next time.
It didn’t ignore the truth of the situation or minimize the consequences of my actions.
The love I have for you goes deeper than just rewarding you for good behavior. It can’t be shaken, no matter how many times you fall short of perfection.
Sometimes the words weren’t even distinguishable, but the feeling was.
You are of great worth to Me, even when you overindulge in things that aren’t good for you. I show you healthy boundaries with food out of love and protection for you, not as a punishment. It is not because I want to withhold pleasure from you, but because I want you to experience the full depth of pleasure available to you in my Kingdom.
And that feeling wasn’t guilt, embarrassment, or shame. It had nothing to do with the mistakes I had already made. Instead, it was empowering, challenging and inspiring me in my future decisions.
I know it’s hard to say no to temptation, but I’ve given you the weapons to fight back. I’m on your side. You’re an overcomer. Put on your spiritual armor and you can win any battle against food, insecurity, doubt, fear, and whatever else tries to harm you.
He wasn’t wagging his finger at me, pointing out what I already knew had been a bad decision. When I was tempted to push away and hide in shame, He quietly and gently beckoned me into His presence with unfailing love.
My plans for you are so much bigger and so much better than you can imagine. Walk with Me through the stress, disappointment, failure, and regret. There are better things ahead, but in the meantime, don’t let go. I’ve got you.
The kind of love that gives you the freedom to make mistakes, but doesn’t lessen when they inevitably happen.
A love that desires what’s best for you always. One that isn’t forceful, but is always patiently waiting with arms wide open when you choose to accept it.
I never expected to hear God’s voice in the midst of an episode of emotional eating. It never occurred to me that God would care about my Cheetos binges.
But He did. And He does. And when I started slowly recognizing His voice and listening to it, it changed everything.
How I Overcame Emotional Eating
I stopped feeling like a failure every time I overate.
I started taking my thoughts captive and throwing out those lies that weren’t from Him. After years of feeling like I was “too much” with my big emotions, I learned to now only allow my feelings but use them to draw me nearer to God (more on that in this post -> When You Feel Like Youāre Too Much: Why Your Emotions Might Be a Gift, Not a Problem)
Instead of eating behind closed doors, it brought me out into the open and took away my shame. It taught me that I could love and enjoy food without overindulging.
When I started memorizing Scripture about overcoming temptation, it empowered me to remember in those moments of food cravings that I had a choice and that He would always provide a way out if I just took the time to look for it (check out these 10 Bible Verses to Help You Overcome Emotional Eating).
It taught me that God cares what I eat and that I could honor Him in my food choices just as much as I can in the ways I treat others in my love.
100 pounds later, there are still times when I overeat.
They are not as frequent and not as severe as they used to be, but when they do happen, I hear His words of grace in a soft love letter inviting me back to the right path instead of listening to a neverending list of insults beating myself up with guilt and shame to manipulate my behavior.
In emotional eating, as in ALL things, learning to hear God’s voice changes everything.
More Christian Weight Loss Posts
Making Exercise An Act of Worship
How to Pray for Freedom in Your Weight Loss Journey
Christian Weight Loss ā A Living Sacrifice
5 Bible Verses on Healthy Eating
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This Is my first time on your site and when you shared how the Lord spoke to you in love it spoke to me. I had asked God a few days ago if he would show me how he sees me through his eyes especially when I mess up. He showed me this post and the way he spoke to you melted my heart. I told God thatās how I needed to hear him talk to me. I hear such condemnation and ugliness from myself and voices that are not of God. Itās filled so many gaping holes in my heart with what I felt was pure love.
Thank you for letting God use you in such a way that helped me when I had nowhere else to go and Desperation and hopelessness was taking over. Bless you!
This just came right on time for me in my current situation. As I’m searching for bible verses that can help me overcome my emotional eating, coming across your blog on how to overcome it -very helpful and so glad God pointed me to your post š Thank you again.
Thank you so much for your realness. I struggle so bad with binge eating and itās happens mostly when I am feeling down about something . I crave to lose 100 pounds used to be 345 now 296 I will keep going . I order the book you suggested I canāt wait to read it .
Thank you for this much needed reminder that we serve a God who is gentle and loving in the midst of our struggles.
You are so welcome, Roberta. Yes, yes, yes. What a mighty and tender God we serve. <3
Thank you so much. I read this message the day after a sugar binge when I was full of guilt and I too did hear His beautiful, loving voice this morning.
Sylvie, I am so glad the Lord brought you to this post at just the right time! May you continue to experience more of His grace and forgiveness as you seek Him in your eating and all things.
Thank you so much for sharing. When I read Gods words to you, I felt His love. I was struggling tonight feeling shame for being overweight and an emotional eater. And found this in my email. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences. It blessed me to feel peace and helped me realize I can try again. God is so good. Thank you for the reminder!
Cheryl, that’s the best compliment you could have spoken to me on this post. Thank you for saying that! I’m so thrilled that you felt His love and peace. God is SO good.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for sharing this message. I felt like you were writing about my overeating and thoughts. I JUST SAT YESTERDAY WITH A BAG OF CHIPS AND DID THE EXACT SAME THING!!!! It is amazing how unworthy satan makes us feel. And we allow him. Then we hear God speak to us in such a loving way. I have let my weight hold me back, and rob me of so much of my lifeās enjoyment. I have allowed it to stop me from serving GOD more than I do.
I have been searching and asking God to lead me to connect more in his word about gluttony, overweight, depression from feeling like I donāt matter. To help me not turn to food for comfort, and beat myself up afterwards.
I would like to stay connected with you and your information. How do I go about doing that. I pray You keep sharing your story for GODS glory, and to help others.
God bless you
Your friend
In Christ
Thank you very much for this post Becky. I am so grateful and also for many of the posts you have shared. They were an answered prayer to a very long battle I am so ready to overcome by the grace of God now.
Jesus is coming back so soon and the pre tribulation rapture is imminent, the signs are everywhere. I pray that I will meet you and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ in Heaven very soon, Lord willing. God bless.
Thank you Becky. These words are full of grace and explicit. Learning to hear God’s word in everything is something I need to develop in my walk with God. God bless you.
Well said. I was immediately able to relate to this. Thank you.
Hey Becky, yes indeed we need to face ourselves not escaping food, movies , music another trip another trip anothers trip, so you need to find out from what you are escaping. it is our own self, finding out what the problem is right now and solving it. respecting the Body God created as it is not ours, it is only borrowed. God is most forgiving, most merciful an no one is like him. May God guide us.
Hi Becky,
Thanks so much for sharing your journey, and your story. I related to this ‘Cheetos’ story from beginning to end. I’m so glad to have found your site, as I have been feeling so down about my weight situation. This really came at the right time for me. God Bless!
Becky, this is the article.
The one that hit my heart at just the right time… last January. I saw it on pinterest. It arrested my heart. I didn’t even realize I am an emotional eater. But as I read this… I walked through it. It was me on that couch. It was me looking at cheese covered fingers seeing the guilt blood of yet again killing my true desire and plan to stop. I then saw an article on your site about bullet journaling and I started a bullet journal tracking things to make a difference. Now, 10 months later, I just started FFL2.0 stage 4 and I am down 30 pounds. I am stoked about the changes this year have brought and I am encouraged to continue moving forward. This stage is all about getting into the Word and trusting God in an area of my life that I kinda shut him out of. I cannot say thank you enough for being open and obedient to share what God has taught you. It is changing my life forever!
Nancy
Oh, Nancy, thank you so much for sharing this with me. I am SO thrilled for all of the progress you’ve made and I am just praising God for all that He is doing in your life and in your heart!
Becky, This is awesome. I’ve been on a weight loss journey with God and hover within a certain range of 20 lbs or so. Its still a learning and loving journey 20 years in. I cant wait to read more of your posts because this one was just the fresh breath of love I needed to hear post animal cracker binge.
Oh and have you written a book yet?? ( I’ll search your site better in a minute. )
You are so sweet! And don’t sweat the animal cracker binge. We’ve all been there! I haven’t written a formal book, but I do have a 30-day weight loss devotional! You may have already seen it here – https://soveryblessed.com/weight-loss-devotional/
Becky,
No coincidence that this popped up on the Pinterest feed written for me too..Jesus..knows I am longing and trying to change my lifestyle to the one He is calling me to. Today I was encouraged by your blog..thank you, it was well written, and humorous. I didn’t eat that many Cheetos today although I had a few, it was the discovered allsorts in the back of the cupboard that I indulged in, however tomorrow is another day, and I will start again stronger.
I am so glad you enjoyed the post! Jesus definitely knows and I have no doubt that He is continuing to strengthen you every day. Thanks for your comment, Sunny!
Wow. It was the Lord that I saw this. It is beautiful to see others that are or have been through the same situation I’m in. I’m grateful for your transparency!
Man, shame has made me bury my talent in the ground and beats me down SO BAD when I over indulge, it actually sends me into a rebellious spirit and then I binge even more and my heart turns angry and cold against God. I can’t even begin to tell you how dark it can get. It is really hard for me to tell His voice from the enemy. He is so tricky and deceptive. (Father of lies)
I have also battled with anorexia because I started fasting to try to control this desire for food and wanted to get closer to God. It seemed like the perfect combo for my food addiction, but I soon lost a lot of weight and so I now have started eating, stopped fasting, but now I’m going to food like I should to God.
I have unfortunately been believing the lies (that food brings me something God doesn’t) of the devil which has separated me from my True Love. Food has become an idol in my life. I run to it, especially when I’m afraid or sad, I think about it constantly even when I’m full almost like OCD type thoughts about it. Then shame beats me and turns me so far from God and tries to convince me that God is holding out on me, that I will never make it out of this addiction, that I am not pleasing to Him and a disgrace. It has really rocked my Faith.
I like what you said about using scriptures. I heard don’t just resist temptation REPLACE it with something. anything. do something different. I’m going to try scriptures, when I know that I’m full. Now I’m afraid to eat. Its a very precarious balance I feel and I just want to be FREE. I want to love Jesus and people like I used to and not led like a slave to a created thing He made. He has shown me how it’s perversion, idolatry and then rebellion… like an unholy trinity that cycles in my heart when I choose food over Him.
I’m going to look up scriptures about temptation! I think of “blessed is the man that endures temptation for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life the Lord has promised to them that love him.” I’m going to try some. Thank you!!
Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'”
@Nicole, this was a long time ago so not sure if you will still pick this up but this comment has resonated so much with me and I wondered where you are now on your journey? I pray you have overcome or are in the process. God bless you.
This it my heart. This is exactly what I have been feeling. Thank you for being open and sharing!
This was life shaking ?
What a beautiful post. Thank you! ā¤ā¤
Thank you from the bottom of my broken heart… this is exactly what I needed to hear today. I am going to print it & read it everyday.
God bless you!!
haha!! Yes, beautiful and tender … what an excellent writer you are! … however, my favorite line: “The neon orange cheese dust that thickly coated my fingers was almost like having blood on my hands from the dreams and goals Iād just killed yet again.” I laughed out loud!! Thanks for being funny in the midst of deeply meaningful!! … maybe you could be a mystery writer too! Love you, friend.
This is beautiful. And very encouraging. Thank you for sharing. š
I NEEDED this right now! Thank you so much!!!
You are so welcome! I am so glad it met you where you are!