Just an advanced warning....

Man, still feeling those intense feelings. I have realized how much I have eaten when I was angry or frustrated with the men in my life. I am going to have to learn new ways of dealing with the feelings and I am not real sure how to do it. Eating has been my crutch for so long. I read this today from Sue Bohlin at Probe Ministries.

You've been on "The Weight Loss adventure" for about a week now, friend, and you may benefit from an advance warning of what may be waiting for you a little down the path.

Whenever we seek to walk out the Lord's desire for our holiness by stopping sinful habits, there may be an unexpected effect after a time. Many of us have used food to self-medicate or cover up some uncomfortable or downright painful heart issues. When we stop using the food to distract ourselves from what's going on in our hearts, these deep things can rise to the surface and make us wonder what's going on. Some students have discovered old fears resurfacing - fears of being vulnerable if their bodies are attractive again. Others have rediscovered the pain of long-buried disappointments, or abuse, or emotional starvation from many years before. Still others, report feeling numb or depressed because they had been depending on food for comfort or encouragement or even entertainment, and suddenly it wasn't there anymore.

We want you to know this may happen and, if it does, not to fear this good thing. As you grow in intimacy with the Lord Jesus and feast on Him, He knows these deep things of the heart will surface, and He wants you to invite Him into those previously hidden places. He wants you to give Him your feelings, your fears, your disappointments and pain. Psalm 51 says, "I know that You desire truth in my inmost parts," and He deeply desires you to be honest with Him about what's going on inside. Friend, the Lord wants to shine His light into your darkness, and He wants to bring not only freedom from your bondage to food, but also healing to whatever caused you to be in bondage in the first place.

One student wrote, "As God has given me victory over overeating and my relationship with Christ became more intimate, other sin issues began to come to the surface. For those of us who have been in bondage to overeating for a very long time and are now becoming free, dealing with other sin issues without turning to food may be quite overwhelming. It is helpful to know this may happen, in order to be prepared when it occurs."

So. . . heads up! Don't let discouragement rob you of the joy ahead! God is at work in you, doing a marvelous work of grace and glory. The process my be difficult, but the rewards are well worth it