Searching in ALL the Wrong Places
Comfort and Peace
If I asked you; "Would you like to more peace in your life?"
What would you answer?
If I was a betting woman- I would wager on; "YES!"
Why? Because I coach women on the regular, and I know myself. The problem is that we are looking to comfort to bring us peace. I call this the crazy train- sweet sister!
What is comfort?
Comfort :
1. a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
2. the easing or alleviation of a person's feelings of grief or distress
If you are anything like me- I have sought comfort from food, sex, marriage, people, things, anything in excess- really. I'm just being honest here. And I would be lying if I told you that these things satisfied my deep desires for peace and comfort.
What about Peace?
Peace:
1. freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
2. mental calm; serenity
Looking in ALL the Wrong Places
The crazy train always goes something like this.
-This ice cream cone will make me happy, I will feel so good if I eat it, I need it, I am stressed and overwhelmed. Hints- why we call certain foods, comfort foods. They're our- go to for comfort. So we hop on the train...
"I'll take, one ticket please- for the comfort train."
The conductor is yelling; "all aboard!"
But- we hear a gentle whisper from behind calling;
"Hey, I think you're on the wrong train... The comfort train is on track 7. You are about to get on the CRAZY TRAIN."
You ignore the gentle whispering voice, because let's get real- if you were about to get on the wrong train you would totally know! Right?
You scarf and devour the ice cream, barely tasting it- all the while, somewhere in your subconscious mind, you hear yourself saying;
"I shouldn't be eating this. I can't have this. I'm so fat. I hate that I always do this. Shame, shame, shame, hate, hate, hate, Guilt, guilt, guilt. I will NEVER eat ice cream again. I swear, I have to eat it all right now"
Guess what just happened? You were robbed of your peace! You quickly begin to destroy yourself and the mind begins to race. You have thoughts of failure. You have thoughts that you are not worthy. Why? Because the CRAZY TRAIN is a fast moving locomotive. It's not a gentle, smooth, commuter train. It's fierce and it takes you to places, and depths that spin out of control and will take you right off the track. The clean up crew will need to be notified immediately;
"Crash has been spotted."
The Proper Place
As believers in Christ, we have the TRUE peace within us. We have the comforter. He has come and has not left us, He will not forsake us. Track 7... That dear sister was the right train.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” —Psalm 27:1
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” —John 14:27
“Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” —Psalm 119:76
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” —Psalm 55:22
You search in all the wrong places when- you search anywhere other than JESUS. Did you catch that?
In the stress, in the overwhelm, if you turn to food or any other vice, you have turned from the only person that truly provides comfort and peace. You have turned in adoration to another... This is idolatry. Yikes! Hang with me. I know that's probably NOT what you came here to read, but- if you are looking for freedom from the CRAZY, you have to know the truth!
Unhealthy patterns in our lives are a result of sin. Am I saying that eating and enjoying an ice-cream cone is sin? Um... NO! I live in the South y'all. Summer days call for cold treats. What I'm saying is this- what is the motive? If I am enjoying the coconut milk ice-cream cone because I have chosen to eat it on the dock, by the lake with my kiddos, there is no guilt or shame. However if I come in the house from a day filled with counseling and I am completely drained, stressed, and overwhelmed, I'm upset- so I open the freezer drawer, grab the ice-cream and eat the entire pint... I will tell you thoughts of enjoyment are not filling my head.
The little orange, fuzzy shame ball comes out to play and condemns me saying things like;
"You looser, you are a Holistic wellness coach. You help women break destructive eating habits, and you just downed that whole thing of ice-cream. You are such a failure. Why should any woman ever listen to the advice you have to give? You totally just ate all that sugar- you're terrible. You're fat, unworthy and should just quit!"
For real. Honesty and confession time here- from yours truly, me.
Can you relate?
So- why do we do this? Why do we not run to Jesus and cry out for help? Why do we turn to others and other things for the comfort and peace we desire?
Habits. Because old habits die hard! Scripture tells us to renew the mind (Romans 12:2) - to daily put on the Amour of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). To stand firm (1st Corinthians 16:13). That we must crucify the flesh daily (Galatians 5:24).
We must intentionally seek to walk in the newness of life, yet death and destruction can so easily over take our thinking. If you follow me or ever work with me, you will quickly find that I constantly drive home:
"You have to begin within!"
Healthy Patterns for God's Glory
"Do not let sin reign in your mortal body that should obey it's lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
-Romans 6:12-13
You sweet sister need to change your game plan! You need to return your ticket for the Crazy Train Express and receive the gifted ticked from the one who was whispering from the beginning. You have to get on the RIGHT train.
I have a question for you.
"If you can create unhealthy patterns, can you create healthy ones for God's glory?"
I do have the answer to this question. YES! YES! YES! You most certainly can. Here's the secret. It takes work, determination and big cup filled of love and grace. (Galatians 5:22-23)
If you have been born again, the fruit of the Spirit has been gifted to you. It's like a teeny-tiny little seed. It has been planted within, and it needs to been tended, watered and cultivated. Notice, I did NOT say seeds. The Bible says FRUIT, not FRUITS. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Self-discipline... These are characteristics of the FRUIT. Just like you could describe and apple as; red, juicy, firm, crunchy, sweet...
You can be self-disciplined. You already have it in you. You need to create new habits, new patterns. You can be loving- again, create new habits and patterns. You have to begin watering and feeding the fruit of the Spirit tree and simply stop watering the FRUIT of the flesh tree. I mean come on, let it whiter and die. Chop it down, rip out it's roots.
It reminds me of the song at the end of the Lorax movie.
Let it die. Let it die. Let it shrivel up and die!"
Yes I know... The flesh will be a daily battle, but girl- it's so worth the fight! Trust me. I- know! And it does get easier. I promise.
How do you create these NEW habits? You need to identify the old destructive patterns. You have to get radically honest with yourself and repent, turn towards God. You need to put off the old and put on the NEW. You can do this, not in your own power, but for sure- in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The comforter has come. He promises peace and life. Don't look anywhere else, look to Him. He's got this. He wants to use your life to bring honor and glory to HIS name, the name of Jesus. Dig in the Word and get on the RIGHT train!
Grace + Peace,
Brittany