Hey y’all,
When you think of the word ‘sobriety,’ I can imagine you think of abstaining from some sort of drug or substance. While that is absolutely one form, today, I am going to be sharing about what sobriety means to us over at 139 Wellness in regards to healing from food, body image, and exercise issues.
Before I dive into what sobriety IS, let me first explain what it is NOT. Sobriety in ED recovery is not manipulating your food over and over again in search of the perfect meal plan. Sobriety is not exercising more because you consumed more calories than usual. Sobriety is not starving yourself, binging, purging, or participating in any other acts of self-harm. To be honest, sobriety in eating disorder recovery cannot really be described as one or two actions that you have to take. Why? Because at the root of our issues, most of us aren’t addicted to a certain food or exercise. Most of us are addicted to the illusion that we are in control of our lives, specifically in manipulating our body shape and body weight. We have become addicted to the sense of control our Eds give us when we succumb to what they tell us to do. Therefore, sobriety in eating disorder recovery can best be described as giving complete control (to the best of your ability) to the Lord.
If you are anything like me, you know that listening to the ED only leads to death and destruction. John 10:10 says, ‘the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’ The enemy uses eating disorders to steal, kill, and destroy from every area of our lives. Eating disorders bait us down a path, promising happiness, contentment, and satisfaction. But 10/10 times, we end up beaten, broken, and desperate. EDs promise the world, but only lead to death.
Jesus offers us another way. If you continue reading in John 10, Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd that lays down his life for his sheep. He continues on saying He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. Not only that, but Jesus promises an abundant life if we follow Him. Not because He will give us cash, prizes, or even good health, but because He will give us more of Himself.
So what does it mean to be sober? To be “sober” means you listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd and fight against the whispers of the enemy. It is a daily surrender of our food, exercise, body weight, and body shape to Jesus. Sobriety does not mean that you have it all together, but rather that you are waving the white flag to God in regards to all of your food, exercise, and body issues. You are willing to turn over control of these areas of your life to God and TRUST that He will take care of them for you. You are also willing to daily surrender your body weight, shape and size to Him as well.
Living out a ‘sober’ life in eating disorder recovery can look different from person to person, mainly because our struggles can be so vastly different. But if you are looking for some generalized ways to check your own sobriety daily, here is a good place to start.
Are you spending time reading God’s Word, in prayer, and worshiping Him throughout your day?
Are you following the advice laid out to you by your healthcare team? (This could include your Registered Dietitian, Mental Health Counselor, doctors, etc). Meaning are you going to your scheduled appointments, support groups, or whatever else they may suggest.
Are you following the meal plan your healthcare team has suggested you follow? (Remember it’s one bite, one meal at a time)
Are you using movement/working out as a means to keep your body healthy and to bring God glory (sober behavior)? Or are you using it as a means to manipulate how you look (non-sober behavior)?
This is not an all-encompassing list, but like I mentioned, it is a good place to start. Hebrews 4 says that Jesus is a sympathetic High Priest who understands us in our struggles. He WILL meet us where we are at, even in the most difficult of circumstances or temptations. So if some of these ideas seem too big to imagine doing, we can take heart because we do not have to go at it alone.
Also, there may be a temptation to look at the list above and try to follow it perfectly. But please know, the message of this post is NOT God is good, you are bad, try harder. The message is sobriety IS surrender. That’s it, plain and simple.
The only way we are ever going to stay sober in our eating or exercise practices, or in the way we view ourselves, is through abiding in Christ. He is the True Vine. We will ONLY be able to bear good fruit in our recovery by allowing Him to prune what is not like Him and to make room for new growth. Essentially, we fight best by praying on our knees.
I hope you will find some encouragement today if you are walking this tough road of eating disorder recovery. The good news is, you don’t have to keep walking it alone. Jesus wants to walk it WITH us. If we are in Christ, we have the resurrecting power of the Holy Spirit living inside. Therefore, we are more than able to fight against any temptation the enemy throws our way. Sobriety IS surrender.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Love,
Camille
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