Emotional Eating, Freedom & Apple Pie

Yesterday, I shared one of the most simple and powerful prayers that helped me begin to develop a prayer life and start reading the Word even when I didn’t feel like it.

Part of my trouble was I turned to sweets instead of the Lord when my stress levels got too high or emotions got too big.

Sugar.

Buttons and string

So I developed a plan. I tied a button on a string and tied it to the wrist of my dominant hand. I reckoned that whenever I reached for excessive sweets, I would see the button on my wrist and it could remind me to turn to prayer instead.

(I’m not sure how I feel about this plan nowadays. I was kind of treating myself like Pavlov’s dogs. But the Lord was kind to humor my attempt, it really did bring me some breakthrough!)

The “core” issue

I wasn’t aware of how big a hold sugar had on me until I tried to only enjoy it in moderation and not when I was emotional. I didn’t realize sugar’s grip on me until I tried to start practicing self-control and self-care.

As I’ve walked with God longer, I have come to love that He’s always interested in the heart of the matter more than the behavior modification. Once our hearts are healed, healthy behavior naturally follows.

But before, I just tried to enforce the desired behavior and came up defeated often.

The heart of this matter wasn’t “stop eating sugar!” No, not really. The real core issue at hand was, “God, I want to learn to turn to you first.”

Where we turn first matter a great deal because that’s where we will sow our seeds and reap our harvest. I already was familiar with the harvest sugar was offering me… and it was a deficient crop.

I wanted to know what could happen if I sowed my first seeds in prayer instead. Then what fruit would I see in my life?

Temptation and apple pie

I can still see the fresh baked apple pie on the counter with the scratch made lattice crust. It was one of my mom’s pieces of art that tasted as beautiful as it looked.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying dessert, but that’s not what was going on with me and sugar back then. It was a stronghold, a compulsion, an unhealthy coping mechanism.

And I didn’t need anything else controlling me. I needed the freedom that Jesus promised me.

When I went to cut myself a big ole’ honkin’ slice of that pie, I noticed the string and button. My hand froze holding the pie server; my eyes locked onto the button on my wrist. It was a visual reminder to bring the heavy things of my heart to the Lord first.

But I didn’t want to pray. I wanted to eat pie.

I had a decision to make and it felt crucial to make the right one.

Freedom and victory

In that moment, I laid down the sugar idol. I chose God. And it was pivotal in my prayer life.

I’m sure I tossed up a silent, “God, help me.” And He did. And I prayed. He worked on healing some broken places.

That small seeming victory was monumental! It showed me that maybe I could break free from sugar addiction! Maybe I could live a lifestyle where I learned to pray about everything first, and not worry or turn to sugar and flesh first.

I’m fond of buttons to this day. A symbol of prayer and victory.

(An aside… as I was typing this, I noticed that there was a pie icon on my search bar and it occurred to me! It’s Pi day! 3.14! So happy Pie day to you! (And happy birthday, Paul!) Honestly, I doubted myself in sharing this story earlier this morning, so how kind of God to confirm sharing this today! And in such a clever way.)

Our God is in the details, and He cares for you and your details too.

Til next time, Peace be with you and toodle-loo!