On Self - Control and Weight Loss
I would like to preface this article by saying that I am a 30-year-old who thankfully doesn’t have any health issues that might affect my weight. While weight can be a sensitive topic, once we clarify a little bit more about my age and health there is a better understanding of the following article. God created all our bodies in a unique and great way, and while losing weight might seem like a desirable thing, I hope that we can desire God’s gift of self control all the more.
I was raised to believe that I was made in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:27.) In fact, when I’m tempted to be critical about how I look, I consider it an insult to God like I’m criticizing His craftsmanship. This conviction also comes when I am tempted to criticize someone else’s appearance. I’ve never been obsessed with my weight or body image and other than in my teen years have been happy with my physical appearance. I have a healthy relationship with food and definitely enjoy the many cuisines and flavors that living in the NYC metro area has to offer.
During the Fall of 2019, my level of indulgence was at an all time high. I had recently gotten married and my husband and I enjoyed trying new recipes and restaurants. Dinners were no longer pre-packaged salads or frozen meals, and now included desserts! (apple crisp topped with ice cream, anyone?) By the time November came around, leggings and big sweaters were the only thing I could comfortably fit into. A quick trip onto the scale made me aware of why I could barely button my pants.
Immediately, I started making changes to my diet. I no longer reached for candy and chocolates after lunch. I stopped having seconds simply because the macaroni and cheese was good. These were little habits that lead me to a closer relationship and dependence on God.
The journey truly began when I recalled that self-control was a fruit of the spirit as we read in Galatians 5:22-23. But the verse I held and continue to hold on to is Titus 2:11-12
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
I also found it interesting that Paul would mention eating in 1 Corinthians 10:31 as a way to bring glory to God. I had definitely forgotten about the first clause in that verse. In short, through God’s grace I began to be trained to turn away from my fleshly desires to indulge in food to bring glory to God.
Do not get me wrong, I truly enjoy eating. The issue was not that I was eating, the issue was that I was seeking comfort and satisfaction again and again by indulging in food. As Asherita Ciuciu writes in her book, Full: Food, Jesus, and the Battle for Satisfaction, “these comfort foods provide us with a glimmer of the satisfaction God wants to offer us if we let Him.”
During our time here on earth, we are going to want bite sized (no pun intended) pieces of comfort and satisfaction in different indulgences, whether, it’s food, sex or the approval of others. The list is endless and looks different for every single one of us. But the truth of the matter is that nothing can fulfill our desires like the Lord can. As I dug deeper into the word, I found verses that resonated with my overeating, Micah 6:14:
“You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be hunger within you.”
Which led me to the next realization, I couldn’t really remember being hungry. This is a first world luxury where life constantly revolves around food, whether we are meeting friends for coffee or going out to dinner with our families. While food was intended for our physical sustenance, in our culture it can become an idol. I’ve found myself often thinking about what I’ll have for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks, more than I’d like to admit. I started shifting my thoughts from food to God. I became less focused on my desire for food and more on my desire for God. It brought to mind verses like, Matthew 5:6:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they should be satisfied.”
In my case, I had to use the Bible to pray for self-control. I learned that I was finding pleasure in food more than I was in the Lord. I had to seek enjoyment in the Lord. At dinner, that looks like me leaving the table as soon as I’m done with my meal. While these are all things that have helped me lose weight, the greater part of this journey is in my dependence on God.
During this time, I had to remember I have everything I need in Christ (1 Peter 1:3). David begins Psalm 16 by taking refuge in the Lord, which is the complete opposite of what we do when we reach for another piece of cake at a birthday party. The Psalmist wraps this chapter up by declaring that there is fullness in Him and in Him alone and that at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. I had to train myself to delight in the Lord more than in food.
If you struggle with food and overeating then you too might need to take comfort in the Lord instead of putting harsh dieting demands on yourself. The self-control that comes from His spirit relieves the guilt and provides you with the power needed to resist getting validation from fleshly habits like this one.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meagan is a Jersey girl doing life in New York City, as a Kindergarten teacher. She recently married her best friend. Meagan loves the Lord and serves and worships at a church plant. During her spare time she likes to read, travel, and eat good food.