Photo by Stephen Moldenhauer

“The only way to negate an emotional eating trigger is to match it with truth.” (Lysa TerKeurst)

When I read this quote last March, I’d been on the journey to healthy weight loss for close to 5 months, but it hit hard.  I realized, despite many glorious moments of success, I was still susceptible to emotional triggers.

My initial response to the difficulties of that week was to worry, eat things I shouldn’t, and feel sorry for myself. Here I sit in June, three months later, having experienced even more success, but today I wish I could go wild in the kitchen and eat away at the stress I feel. (Ugh. That’s brutally honest.)

Still, I’ve learned that eating doesn’t make me worry less or feel better. In fact the result is that I feel worse because I inevitably end up disappointed in myself for making bad choices and frustrated with myself for turning to something that never truly satisfies.

Last March (after wallowing in my stuff for a while) my next response was to email my favorite prayer warriors and call them to their battle station. After I did that a line from a song started playing in my head, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” I’ve no doubt the Lord sent it in answer to the prayers of my friends and my own heart plea. It was the truth I needed to combat the emotional trigger than pushed me toward the pantry.

I only remembered that one line but looked up the rest. Maybe it will encourage you, too:
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

And so today I choose as I did last March to ask Jesus for strength to turn to Him and not empty things that won’t help. I’m hanging onto Jesus as my portion and fixing my eyes on Him.

May we  all “rest in his goodness” as the song goes.

Holy Spirit,

Please speak into our thoughts. Give us the truth we need to combat the emotional triggers we face. Help us to hang onto Jesus instead of reaching for what never satisfies.

How about you?

Was there a line in this song that meant something to you on this journey?  What kinds of things trigger you?

Share the hope:

Hanging onto Jesus