Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how the Lord God has positively influenced my overeating, this doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse. Debbie

COE Support Note:

If you REALLY want to read how Christ helped me throughout this weight loss and even when I was tempted, you should read some of the 100's of previous posts on https://christianovereaterssupport.blogspot.com/

God Healed My Aching Heart-

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4.

A family member of mine was about to die. I visited the family member in the hospital every day and hated to leave their bedside. I was beside myself and overate, thinking it would console me, but nothing would. When my family member died, I was torn with grief and felt like I would never get over it.

For quite a while, I actively felt the same pain I did when my family member died. After a while, though, the pain didn't feel quite as pungent as it once did. Again, I was beside myself. I was frantically thinking of how much I loved and missed this beloved family member. I mentally went through the the events leading to their passing and again felt the pain. As the pain returned, so did a distorted sense of peace.

I did this for quite a while, before I was open to listening to what God was trying to tell me. When I finally listened to that still small voice inside me that only God gives, I found out that somehow I equated my pain at the loss of the family member as love for the family member. I thought that as long as I still actively felt the pain, I still loved them.

I vacillated between trying to dredge up the pain of their passing and trying to let go. I was no more able to do this on my own than I was able to give up the overeating, because of my grief. When I turned these things over to God, He comforted me as only God can do and healed my aching heart. I found that my love is just as real when I'm not dredging up the pain I felt.

 I don't need to figure out ways to be in constant pain to prove how much I loved my family member and miss them. When I turned this over to God, I was finally able to be reassured by this passage. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4.

Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse.


Friendships That Could Have Led Me Astray-

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

I was trying to be prayerful about what God wanted me to share related to this passage. The thought that came to mind isn't one I've thought of for years and had preferred to forget. It's even more difficult to share with my readers. I know that God always knows the "Big Picture" and  what someone needs to read at any given time, so here goes...

I had moved to a new high school in a neighboring town. Shortly before the move, I had gone to a party with another friend (the one who later betrayed me in the post on 4/4/13). She introduced me to some friends of hers that went to the same high school I was going to go to after the move. I had been overeating because I was apprehensive about the move, but was comforted to have a couple of people I already knew there. They gave me their phone number to contact them once I made the move.

I was excited as I called them, thinking that it was wonderful to start with new friends in an unfamiliar school. They included me in everything. We met together as a group before school. We ate lunch together. We met after school. I had new friends, or so I thought.

They seemed very popular and had a lot of attention from boys. They always seemed to have boyfriends who would pick them up after school and take them places. I started noticing things about my new-found friends. Sometimes they would cuss, unlike people I had been associated with, in the past. I got the feeling that they drank and possibly used recreational drugs from things they said about parties that they attended. I got the feeling that they were a little "too friendly" with many different boys, although I didn't have any proof, but just put the pieces together from their conversations.

I found a church in our new town and got very involved in the youth group there and developed new friendships. Years later, I thought about some of the ways that God has positively influenced my life. I realized that as naive as I was, I could have gotten caught up in drinking, drugs, and promiscuous behaviors with boys, long before I was ready for more serious relationships. Fortunately for me, God gave me a way out of the friendships with those who could have led me astray. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse.



Betrayed-a Double-Whammy!-

1 John 4: 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

A best friend from my previous high school, introduced me to a boy that lived close to her. We started dating shortly after that, despite my move to a nearby town. He would call and come to town to visit me when he could get a ride. Although we weren't intimate, I opened up and shared my most intimate thoughts and dreams, something you only do with someone you trust. 

My best friend in my current high school, asked her boy friend to take me to the neighboring town to see my boyfriend. I was excited about the opportunity to get to see him, but that didn't last long. When we got to his house, we found that he and my previous friend were in the backseat of a car parked in the driveway. I didn't know exactly what they were doing, but it didn't matter. I felt as if I had been betrayed! Betrayed not only by someone who had been my best friend at one time, but by my boyfriend, as well. It was a double-whammy!

I internalized this and ate to console myself. I figured that there must have been something lacking in me in order for him to choose someone else instead of me. For years after that, I think I distanced myself from relationships with others. I didn't want to be vulnerable enough to be hurt again. It's hard to develop a close personal relationship with others when you are keeping them at arms distance for protection.

It was only through God's grace, that He had me take the risks to care again. God didn't want me to be lonely and isolated in a world where I push everyone else away. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live though Him. 1 John 4: 8-9.

Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verses.


Sabotaging My Friendships with Others-

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise and be not afraid. Matthew 17:7

Right after high school, I sold a cosmetic product to help pay for college. I lived with my mother and didn't own a car, so I rode a bike across town to sell cosmetics to the women in my territory. I rode down the street, but any dog that was not tied to a chain would chase me down the street nipping at my heels. I was told that dogs can sense fear in people.

When my daughter was born, I used to put her in the stroller to take walks in the neighborhood. We enjoyed these walks until dogs would come out from behind the bushes and chase at my heels as I quickly wheeled my daughter to safety. I remembered when I had sold cosmetics and wondered if the dogs were really sensing my fear, as I had been told.

I watched other people walking in the neighborhood and dogs didn't seem to follow at their heels as they walked. It must be that these dogs really sensed my fear and followed me because of it. Not wanting to deprive my daughter of walks in the fresh air, I decided to act like I wasn't afraid when I walked in the neighborhood. I held my body upright, looked the dogs in the eyes, and said, "NO" with a forceful voice. To my surprise, the dogs didn't bother me.

When I was heavy, people didn't always welcome me into conversations with them. I figured that they didn't want to include me because of my weight. I only had a few long-term friendships from high school. I was afraid of developing new friendships for fear of rejection, which was sabotaging my friendships with others.

Jesus got me through that, when I turned my concerns over to His very capable hands. People were sensing my fear just like the dogs had. When I approached people with an upright body, looked them in the eye, and had a smile, they were much more apt to include me in their conversations. They were much more open and welcoming. It had been my fear of rejection that they sensed, but fortunately, Jesus refocused me. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise and be not afraid. Matthew 17:7

Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse.



Suddenly Treated Me Like I Was Worthwhile-

Hebrews 10: 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

God is lots more forgiving than I ever was. When I had lost the 80+ pounds, people seemed to be much nicer to me. People in my church, my children's school, and what I call "Hi-Bye" friends, were suddenly much more attentive. They tried to include me in conversations more. They listened to my ideas instead of shunning me because I was overweight.

At first, there was a split second, where I was elated with all the new found attention. It didn't last long, though, because it quickly turned into resentment. I resented all those people who suddenly treated me like I was worthwhile, because I was worthwhile all along! I figured that if they didn't want to be my friend when I was fat, then they didn't deserve to be my friend when I was thin!

There is some logic in my approach, but I'm so glad it's not the approach that God has with me. Jesus doesn't say, "Debbie wasn't being a good Christian last week when she was impatient with her husband, so she doesn't deserve to be My follower, now!" Fortunately for me, God is all-forgiving. He loves me no matter what I do.  I am much more able to forgive others when I'm living my life by the instincts God gives me: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  Hebrews 10: 16.

Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. If Jesus says this after all the sinful things I've done and the many times I've ignored His requests to share my faith with others, then I have to be much better at forgiving those who suddenly treated me like I was worthwhile. 

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my overeating, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse.


Positive Impact on Someone's Life, from the Bathroom-

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Romans 12:14

This isn't always an easy Bible verse to adhere to. I used to work someplace, years ago, where my supervisor was very hateful, at times. At the time, it felt like it was directed to me. Since then, I've come to learn that, sometimes, people are responding to what is going on in their own lives and it doesn't always have that much to do with us, although we often reap the rewards of their stress.

She would be impatient and, often, hateful to me. I used to regularly turn to food when I felt overwhelmed. I was a single parent, at the time, and really needed the job. There were many times that I hid away in the bathroom, so no one could see that I was crying. That's when I started praying in the bathroom.

I would ask God to get me through the situation that seemed unbearable, at the time. Then, I read this Bible verse: Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Romans 12:14. After that, when I would go to the bathroom in tears, I would pray for God to heal my supervisor's heart, for God to have her come to know Him as her Savior, for good things in her life. At first, I only expected these prayers to get me through another unbearable situation. What I found out was, my supervisor was much more pleasant to me when I returned. 

At first, I thought it was just a coincidence. So, the next time I went to the bathroom in tears, I prayed something similar for God to bless and heal my supervisor. Again, my supervisor was much more supportive of me when I returned. I decided I was on to something!  I didn't have to eat from stress over work any more. Everytime I turned my supervisor over to God, He took care of everything. I prayed my way through that job and God led me on to other things, much less stressful. When I have difficult people in my life, I don't always remember this situation immediately, but when I do, I try to pray for God to bless them, heal their heart, and have them come to know Him as their Savior. You would never know that you could make such a positive impact someone's life, from the bathroom.



Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

Thankful for Being Overweight-

Romans 5: 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 and patience, experience; and experience, hope:

I wondered if readers were confused by my healthy tip comment on the November 29, 2012, titled: Ashamed of My Body After Losing the Weight... Under the comments section, I put that I was thankful for being overweight. This came from lots of thoughts that God allowed to drift through my head around Thanksgiving. I say that I am thankful, but am I really thankful for everything?

The thing that came to mind was my on-going issue with being overweight. Sure, God allowed me to lose over 80 pounds and has kept the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. Now that I was dealing with gaining back a third of the weight, was I still thankful? I thought about it from lots of different angles. I thought that I am blessed in comparison to some, because being overweight means that I have food to eat and enough to spare. In some countries, they feel fortunate to have rice and water.

Then, God had this reflective thought go even deeper. He led me to realize that some of the magnificent changes in my relationship with Him, with myself, and others came about because of my overeating. I had been a Christian for years before God allowed me to lose all the weight. It wasn't until I turned my control of my food, body, eating, and life over to God, before He allowed this significant miracle in my life.

I thought the weight loss would be very freeing and in some ways it was. I, also, found that the weight loss drew other issues to the forefront and led me to realize I had been hiding behind food and my excess weight all those years. Without God's making me aware of these, I wouldn't have had the same depth of relationship with God that I have now. 

I feel truly blessed, not just because of the weight loss, but more for the realization that if I hadn't had overeating as my vice (my tribulations), I might not have ever come to know God on this same level. The thing that is even more significant is that through daily Bible reading, God allows this relationship to continue to grow even deeper-something that gets me through even the most difficult of life events. Debbie


Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse.



I Got Caught Up in the Vanity Mode Again-

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

I haven't had to deal with this frustration for a number of years, mostly because I eluded myself into thinking that my gradual weight gain was only a normal process of life. Now, I have been trying to be more focused on eating the way that God has intended me to eat, "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,"  because food is one of my bigger vices. I have secretly thought that I'm doing pretty well, although I haven't weighed lately. It sure didn't take me long to slip back into the "Vanity Mode".

Boy, was I in for a rude awakening! My husband suggested we go use the exercise equipment. I walked a mile on the treadmill, but my feet were getting tired and my husband wanted to walk further. So, I decided to get on the exercise bicycle. The electronic display on the exercise bicycle said a weight that was almost as much as when I started trying to refocus my eating.

 I just knew it had to be wrong! I tried to figure out what it could be. I thought about the cell phone mini purse I had slung across my shoulders. I took it off and put it on the handle bars and started the program again, so it could correctly calculate my weight. Lo and behold, it said the exact same weight. That couldn't be right. I've spent the last month or so trying to focus on turning my feelings and concerns over to God and watching portion size. Well, that is except for last night when I had snack crackers as one of my three breads or the night before when I had potato chips as one of my three breads.

I even had my husband hold the cell phone mini purse, but the bicycle still registered the same weight. I was so frustrated that I suggested that we go out to lunch on the way home. When my husband hesitated, I told him that we could go home and I could make a sandwich on our light bread, instead. That way, if he said we should go out to eat, it would be all his fault for saying he wanted to go there. I had to support what my husband wanted to do. Right???

Well, he said that he'd prefer to have the sandwich at home on the light bread. There went my opportunity to drown my sorrows by eating at my favorite restaurant. Then it all came back to me. I used to feel this way, at times, when I first started losing weight.  I have to remember that just like then, I need to turn my frustration, pain, and disappointment over to God, who can heal all these, so I'm less apt to eat over them. Debbie


Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse.


I Don't Want to Slip Through God's Fingers-

Matthew 4: 2 And when He [Jesus] had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered [hungry]. 3 And when the tempter [Satan] came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

I wondered when I was reading this passage, what would I have said to Satan. Since I've been an overeater a large portion of my life, would I have said, "Sure, I'll make these stones into bread, as long as I can have real butter on it and maybe a little jelly."

Jesus goes on to say in verse 4: But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. That stops me in my tracks! I might have let my hunger and focus on food, work a wedge in my relationship with God. It may have been the guiding force instead of doing what God would want.

Since Jesus has shown me the negative influence that the focus on food has had in my life, I find it vitally refreshing, much more than any food could ever be, to start each and every day by reading the Bible, followed by prayer. Sure, in the beginning, when I first started doing this, my stomach would growl at the normal time I ate breakfast. That paled in comparison to the calm feeling that surrounds me each and every day I start my day out with God. I value it so much, that I set the alarm so that I wake up earlier than everyone else, so I can have my special time with God with few distractions. I can always tell the difference when I get too busy and let this special time with God slip through my fingers. I don't want to ever go back to my worldly ways and slip through God's fingers.

Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how God has positively influenced my overeating, this does not necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse.


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