Tools of Faith in Recovery
As a Christian, your relationship with God can be one of the most powerful parts of your recovery journey.
In the previous blog, I reviewed how each journey toward healing from an eating disorder is different. How faith shows up in your journey will be unique for you and God’s work in your life.
Here are a few things to consider as you explore how faith intersects eating disorder recovery.
Consider these questions. Are you willing to bring God into your relationship with food and body? Are you willing to make Him a part of your recovery?
If your answer is, “Yes”, seek Him daily. Pray. Read the Bible. Know His promises.
If your answer is, “I’m not sure”, my encouragement is the same. Pray. Read the Bible. Seek God.
If you are reading this blog, my guess is that you are considering what it would look like to bring God into your journey. If so, read on.
Here are a few things to consider and some scripture to meditate on and pray about.
The first is identity. Often eating disorders overtake our sense of who we are and how we are valued. Exploring what your thoughts and beliefs say about your identity and comparing them to what God says in scripture can help you understand your value, worth, and purpose. Here are a few verses to consider:
John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
Ephesians 1:7-8a In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
We are valued, redeemed, loved by God!
The second is grace. Grace is not an excuse to continue in our behaviors. Grace is both abundant in mercy and forgiveness when we fail and power through God’s work in our lives to continue to follow and be obedient to Him for His glory and our good.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The third is Hope. Where do you put your hope? Eating disorders tend to have us hoping in our body size or restriction or eating or rules around food. Has this hope fulfilled its promise? Scripture speaks to where we have a hope that is sure and true.
Psalm 119:114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Matthew 11:38 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
These are just a few of the many truths and promises that God holds for your life. I encourage you to pick a few verses that you connect too and repeat them to yourself.
Today as you consider next steps,
Pray at meals.
Repeat His promises when fear and doubt arise.
Seek Him.
Join with others in prayer and study God’s word.
Be encouraged in your faith and recovery!
Here are a few resources to continue in your faith in recovery:
Transformed: Eating and Body Image Renewal God’s Way by Jennifer Smith Lane
Hope for the Hollow: A Thirty Day Inside Out Makeover for Women Recovering from Eating Disorders by Jenna Morrow
Souls Like Stars: Renew Your Mind, Heal Your Heart, Unveil Your Shine by Margaret Nagib
