When Food Becomes Our Comfort

John 10:10 — "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Have you ever found yourself standing in front of the pantry or refrigerator, looking for something to eat even though you're not really hungry?

Maybe you've had a stressful day, you're feeling lonely, or something happened that left you frustrated or discouraged. You know food won't solve the problem, but in that moment, it sounds pretty good.

I think most of us can relate!

There's nothing wrong with enjoying food or finding comfort in a favorite meal. God created food to nourish us, and it's also something we can enjoy and share with others.

But when food becomes our primary way of dealing with difficult emotions, it can create a cycle that's hard to break.

We feel stressed, sad, or overwhelmed, so we eat to feel better. We experience some temporary relief, but the original feelings are often still there. And if we end up eating more than we intended, shame can quickly follow.

We start telling ourselves things like:

• "I have no self-control."

• "Why do I keep doing this?"

• "I'll never be able to change."

And those thoughts can make us feel even worse, which sometimes sends us right back to food for comfort.

Do you see how shame can keep the cycle going?

For some women, shame around food is also connected to their weight or appearance. They worry about what other people think, compare themselves to others, or feel like their worth is somehow tied to the number on the scale.

But I want to remind you of something we've been talking about throughout this challenge: Your worth has never been determined by your weight, your eating habits, or how much willpower you have.

God loves you right now, and He wants you to experience freedom from the thoughts and habits that are keeping you stuck.

One of the things I love about John 10:10 is that Jesus tells us He came so we could have life to the full.

That doesn't mean a life without struggles or difficult emotions. But it does mean we can turn to Him for help instead of relying only on things that offer temporary relief.

And that includes our relationship with food.

Sometimes what we think is hunger is actually a desire for comfort, rest, connection, or relief from something that's bothering us.

So here's something I'd love for you to try today.

The next time you find yourself reaching for food when you're not physically hungry, don't immediately criticize yourself or assume you've failed.

Instead, pause for a moment and ask:

"What am I really needing right now?"

Maybe you're tired and need rest. Maybe you're feeling lonely and could use a conversation with a friend. Maybe you're anxious about something and need to talk it through. Or maybe you're carrying shame and simply want to feel better.

Whatever it is, acknowledge it.

Then invite God into that moment. You might pray:

"Lord, You know what I'm feeling right now. Help me understand what I really need and make a choice that will care for both my body and my heart. Remind me that I don't have to turn to food to escape difficult feelings, and I don't have to feel ashamed when I struggle. Thank You for loving me and helping me grow."

And remember, this isn't about never eating for enjoyment or always making the perfect food choice. It's about becoming more aware of what's driving our decisions and learning healthier ways to care for ourselves.

You can enjoy food, care for your health, and work toward changing your habits without allowing shame to be part of the process.

That's the kind of freedom I want you to experience.