Free From Shame, But Not Responsibility

I feel I’d be remiss if I didn’t say something that ties together both pieces of revelation I’ve had about weight loss spiritually speaking.

Yes, there are countless things that can happen to us, around us, that can lead to our body’s becoming physically addicted to food, Whether we learn to run to it for comfort, escape, happiness (aka dopamine), or some other reason, there are many natural/external possible causes.

But none of those reasons excuse us from the responsibility we have as Christians to partner with the Lord in breaking free of the chains that hold us in bondage. Knowing that trauma led to obesity or chemically enhanced foods are what got us hooked on hohos, doesn’t mean we can just stay there in that pattern and pout. We are called to more! We are called to be doers of the Word not just hearers. We are blood bought children of the most high God and He has made sure to equip us for all the battles we face. Wallowing isn’t part of the born again life. At least, it shouldn’t be. (Trust me, I’ve done more than my share of it over the years…..even last week!)

So what does that mean?

It means that we, as Christians, can have our eyes opened to the science and the proven facts about some possible root causes to this food addiction, and in seeing those facts we can drop the heavy load of guilt and shame we’ve been carrying, blaming ourselves for being too weak. But it also means we can proactively pursue total healing and wholeness now that we more fully see the enemy we are fighting.

The Bible says that when we know the good we should do, and don’t do it, that is sin.

(James 4:17)

It also says, that faith without works is dead. (James 2:17)

To me those verses are a strong reminder of our responsibility to do all that we know the Lord would have us do in this life. That means we choose life and not death, even with our eating. That means we face the hard truth that us Christians with trauma in our stories, may often have a harder time giving up things we are addicted to. In this case, food. Those verses charge us as believers to do what needs to be done to ensure we are walking out each day as living sacrifices pleasing to God. (Romans 12:1)

We can learn the science and understand that this battle of obesity doesn’t feel impossible to win because we are weak and fail. But it feels impossible because the roots very often run much deeper than we are aware of and we grow weary chopping off bits we see without really digging deep and getting those suckers out of us. We can work with the Lord to walk in the freedom that Christ died to give us. Freedom from every bondage and struggle that entangles us. We can stop listening to the lies of the enemy when he whispers hopelessness and doubt, saying we will always be fat or always be addicted. We can use the weapons God gives us in His word to rip out old lies that have been part of our foundation and stand firm on the Truth about who we are in Christ and the victory He promises.

This means we can lift our heads higher and remember whose we are. And at the same time, find strength in that identity to walk away from the foods that bring death. To walk away from gluttony and choose life. We can lean on Jesus to be our strength each time we have to resist the devil in whatever form he appears, and watch him flee.

I wish I could say it was easy. That there was some simple process to just do this and be done, but that’s not been true for me or anybody I’ve seen walk this out. I guess that is part of where we can choose to be living sacrifices. When we face what our flesh wants strongly, knowing it leads to death, and choose life and rebuild these temples the Lord has entrusted us with, one bite, or lack of bite, at a time. We can reckon ourselves dead and choose to live as Christ. (Romans 6:11)

As we walk this road, let’s remind ourselves that we aren’t alone, the Lord walks with us and He gives us strength. That we are more than conquerers (Romans 8:37) and that there is nothing we face that we cannot overcome with God on our side.

And let us also remember that grace is real and powerful and we are never called to be perfect while we are stuck on earth. Perfection isn’t possible but doing our best is. Even with all the knowledge and tools, all the Bible verses and plans we prayerfully make, we will fall…but we can also choose to get back up, dust ourselves us, and make the next choice, the best choice.

Shame is silenced in the light of truth and we are empowered by the Lord to partner with His promises and walk in total healing and freedom from anything the world has done to us.

Remember, our bodies are temples of the living God and it is our honor to steward those well and do our best to restore them to the design He has for them. (And because He is so loving, doing so blesses our socks off and helps us live much more abundant lives!!)

Let’s do this!

All things are possible! (Matthew 19:26)