Grace For Your Waist-Living A Lifestyle Fitted With HopeSample

 Tangled Emotions and Triggers 

As a woman, my brain is hard-wired to my sensitive heart. There are days when my feelings become commanding demanders. And for much of my life, I would soothe my hurt feelings and deep insecurities by consuming my favorite tasty snacks. 

As my weight climbed to an all-time high, my self-esteem tanked to an all-time low. I realized I had become my own worst enemy through my emotional eating habits. 

That awareness was a game changer.

So, I asked God to take control of my emotions. Through being honest with Him, I began to believe He would change me. Rather than being embarrassed of my feelings, I realized they were a gift from God.

As I grew closer to God and learned His truths, I became keenly aware of my lack of self-control borne out of childish ways.  I also began to care less about what others thought and became more open with my food struggles.

On our best days we can only control ourselves. In life, there are real triggers that bring a response of fear, anger, lust, or jealousy. You can learn to respond appropriately. If you lack self-control, need confidence, or are wrestling with an insecurity, it’s best to admit your need to God. 

As you identify those ill-placed emotions, let go of them and let the Holy Spirit teach you how to respond. This is an important step and will save you a lot of regret and pain. By seeking comfort in food, you are excluding God’s help and compassion He longs to give you in every circumstance. 

Taking action on this step is liberating. By telling yourself a healthy “no” to food or when passing on a temptation, you are set free! Resisting food temptations and emotional triggers guard you against shameful reactions. No matter whether you are an emotional eater or not, we can all learn how to control ourselves better. The Holy Spirit is our helper in every area so don’t let food dominate your emotions nor boss you around. Take control -- remember, your worth and self-esteem are at stake. 

God’s grace is big enough to handle your emotions. There’s no shame in turning to Him or trusting Him. 

What triggers your emotions? How can you better choose to deal with them?