There’s a television commercial airing lately that suggests if you’re human, snacking in the face of any and all emotions is your default setting – and therefore the weight-loss program the ad is promoting is needed because they provide personal coaching to help you overcome this problem.
But were people actually designed to eat in response to stress, celebration, depression, boredom, elation, unmet expectations, etc.? If you’ve studied the Scripture at all, you know that’s not in the original design.
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:29, NIV
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.” Matthew 12:1, NIV
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat… Acts 10:9-10a, NIV
“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. 1 Corinthians 6:13, NIV
Food was designed to be eaten when you are physically hungry. You were designed to desire food when you are physically hungry. Eating when you are not physically hungry is not natural for human beings. Eating when you are not physically hungry is an attempt to meet needs that were not intended to be met through eating food.
Do you want affection? Can food hug you? Do you want peace? Can food calm you for more than the time it takes to eat it? Do you want to celebrate? Can food express jubilation well and for longer than a few moments?
You were designed to find your fulfillment in God and all that He provides, and food is only one such provision. Next time you want to turn to food but you know very well you are not physically hungry, take a moment and turn to God and ask Him how He is providing for you in a way food cannot. He wants to show you His adequacy, His sufficiency, His unique provision for all that you need – and to show you a new perspective for what you want but don’t actually need.
Since you were designed for intimacy with God, if you are a “new creation in Christ,” turning to Him is your default setting, and turning to food is an aberration from your design.