*Trigger Warning: Food Restriction is discussed
Before you give this devotional a read, take a moment to read Steadiness in the Storm- Part 1!
In the last post, we talked a lot about the storm. Storms look innocent until you get out in it and see that it is overwhelming and has a lot more power than you thought.
As I read over the passage and thought about the next part, I can’t help but notice how food plays a role in this story. Take a quick read of the passage again!
Acts 27:13- 44
“When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed along close to short. But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength caught the ship and blew it out to sea. They couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale. We sailed behind a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat that was being towed behind us. Then we banded the ship with ropes to strengthen the hull. The sailors were afraid of being driven across the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor and were thus driven before the wind. The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even threw out the ship’s equipment and anything else they could lay their hands on. The terrible storm raged unabated for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Fair Havens. You would have avoided all this injury and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you! So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. They took soundings and found the water was only 120 feet deep. A little later they sounded again and found only 90 feet. At this rate, they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the prow, but Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, ‘You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.’ So the soldiers cut the ropes and let the boat fall off. As the darkness gave way to the early morning light, Paul begged everyone to eat. ‘You haven’t touched food for 2 weeks’, he said, ‘Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish. ‘ Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and all 276 of us began eating- that that is the number we have aboard. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard. When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get between the rocks and get the ship safely to shore, so they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. But the ship hit a shoal and ran aground. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the strern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land, and he told the other to try for it on planks and debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.”
For 2 weeks the sailors had been in this storm, so focused on saving themselves, on trying to follow the rules of sailing that they knew, on the weather and circumstances, that they hadn’t eaten. They were so focused on survival that they didn’t meet their basic needs- eating food.
When I read this story, I can’t help but think about restrictions. How we get so focused on our circumstances and situations, our food rules, on trying to look ‘perfect’ or be in control that we restrict one of our most basic needs as human beings. In the midst of the storms in life, when all we want is control, we often control the only thing that we can think of- food. That developed behavior of restriction gave us a sense of control and peace, a way to control the overwhelming anxiety and depression for a while. That control feels so GOOD… we get a false sense of peace with it. Until one day, we look up and the storm is still raging and we are still stuck on this boat. We still feel sad and anxious. Suddenly, the control that we had over food doesn’t feel like enough. Suddenly, food is scary too.
The thing that we were trying to have control over now controls us. And the storms are still raging. Life is still happening. We are still stuck on the boat.
Paul begs the sailors to ‘PLEASE EAT SOMETHING NOW FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!’ Do you have someone in your life screaming that at you? Or maybe you are starting to think that about yourself? I remember when someone said that to me. I came back at them with all of my arguments on why I couldn’t. Are you in that place today?
We are only ready for true recovery when we make the decision that our recovered life is better than the life that our ED has given us. You have to make that decision for yourself. You may have been forced into recovery centers, in to therapists’ offices, and nutritionists, and you may not be at a point to let your ED go. (Check out this devotional on Your Eating Disorder’s Purpose) I get it. I’ve been there too. But at some point in your life, you will get tired of living by the rules of your ED. You will eat something for your own good. Once it is your choice and your decision, you WILL get better. You will still have to fight and claw to get out of ED’s grips, but you CAN do it.
Paul took the first step by telling others that restricting food here was wrong. Then, he led by example. He prayed and gave thanks, and then he ate. Others followed- in fact, everyone else on the boat started eating at that point.
When you think of how you eat now, do you retreat in your mind and listen to food rules, or do you look to others? Do you give thanks and pray before meals? There is a distinct mindset that Paul shows us here that I think is very important when we eat! (***Isn’t the Bible SO wonderful. It has this incredible passage that literally shows us how to eat. I feel like this passage was made just for us!**) Our mindset needs to be ‘Eating is good for us’! Then, we are called to give thanks in prayer! After that, we are called to actually eat.
When our mindset about food is all about rules, circumstances, comparison to others, judgment, shame, guilt, sadness, fear, and anxiety, it’s no wonder that we have a hard time eating food. No one wants to enter a situation where they know that they are going to feel hard emotions.
I have to ask, when is the last time that you sat down for a meal or snack and instead of retreating inward you thought ‘Eating is food for me. Food is nourishment that I need’. When is the last time that you gave TRUE thanks to God for the food that you were eating before you ate it? I’m not talking about what your parents or spouse or family made you say. When is the last time that you said it as you meant it, that you dug down deep into your heart to speak to your Father in Heaven about how blessed you are to be eating the food on your plate?
Even typing this, I can feel the mindset shift inside of me for my next meal or snack. Instead of going into the routine about why we can’t eat the food, make a routine around why you CAN eat the food. Saying the mantra that ‘Food is good for me’ and an earnest and thoughtful prayer about being thankful for food can drastically change our mindsets to make meals more enjoyable instead of unbearable.
From this passage, we know that the storm didn’t stop. We know that life kept on going. We know that they were all still in danger. But, we do see a significant change that may be overlooked. The sailors started thinking more clearly after they ate. Everyone on the boat was able to do their designated job. Everyone was able to THINK. Everyone was able to be saved. Not one person on that boat died.
When we eat, we nourish. It’s not only our bodies that receive that nourishment, it’s our brains as well. With nourished brains, we can make more rational decisions. From there, we can do anything! From there, we can live out the lives that we are meant to live.
None of us want to live lives that are restricted. We want the freedom to really live this wonderful life that God has planned for us. We can only do that when we stop restricting our basic needs in life. You need food to live. By changing your mindset on food, you will live a more fulfilled life. True peace comes from God. It doesn’t come from trying to control things in your life so that you feel more control. True peace comes from trusting our Father to take care of us. Part of taking care of us is providing us with food to eat to nourish our bodies and minds. Don’t let the enemy take this basic need away from you. God has provided for you. Thank Him for His provision, tell the enemy what food ACTUALLY IS (Food is nourishment for my body and mind) and then, eat.
I know that it is easier said than done. I challenge you this week to try out this mindset. To actually do the 3 steps of this process and see if it helps. Try it a few times and see if/how food changes for you.
I am always praying for you! I’ve got resources as well as other devotionals listed down below for you. Also, make sure to join my email list! I send weekly emails with encouragement, prayers, and a few freebies! I’m starting work on a big project for you all that I am over the moon about!! Sign up below to stay in touch!
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