Is Food an Idol?

I've been on this long journey of figuring out my food intolerances. I did the Fructose Mal-absorption diet for a year and a half. This was a big sacrifice, giving up gluten and many fruits and vegetables I loved. I felt better, but still had painful gas and discomfort at times, not to mention the fatigue! So for the past several months I've been following a Candida-free diet, which has rocked my world even more. I had to give up the things I love: coffee, peanut butter, popcorn, sugar, yeast, bananas and oranges, just to name a few. Now, I knew I didn't have to follow this diet, no one was holding me to it. But the longing to feel good and energized gave me the will power to do it.

I really relied a lot on myself to do this thing. I think I was angry with God for allowing me to go through this. Why can't you at least let me have coffee? That's all I ask, I'll give up the other things. Right away I tried to find things to substitute for coffee. I did all this research and found out that chicory was substituted for coffee during the wars. I tried it.....it was okay if I added almond milk and my sugar-free homemade chocolate! But it was not the same. It did not bring the satisfaction that my full coffee-press brought several times a day!

Then I realized I had a problem. Not only was I addicted to coffee, but it had become an idol. I always had my red REI mug full of hot coffee-from first thing in the morning til I picked up the girls from school. It was like my security blanket. When my kids played restaurant or house, they always had a "mug of coffee" as a prop. Why was it an idol? Because I went to it for comfort and satisfaction. I drank it in the morning to start my day. If I felt anxious or depressed, the kettle was on and the grounds were measured into the press. So....instead of going to God for life and fulfillment I went to coffee. Before all the diets I used to go to sweets or chocolate as well. Once I started it was hard to stop. I couldn't just eat one crumb of brownies, I would cut off a small square, then pop in another crumb, etc., etc.

Following this diet has helped me get to the level of discipline/effort that I need to put forth. It has taught me to pry open my hands and give the Father control of all things, even what I put into my mouth. It has also taught me about thanksgiving and reliance on the Father for comfort. Coffee and chocolate brought comfort for the moment, but the problems were still there breathing down my neck moments later. I've had to find Jesus' presence in all my hardships and times of loneliness, He's always there waiting for me. He's the only true comfort I will ever find.

So how do you know if food is an idol for you? What are those foods or beverages that you think you simply can't live without? That would be a good place to start! Ask the Lord to open your eyes to anything in your life that comes before Him: it could be food, TV, technology, friendships, family, yourself, diets, even marriage. Ask the Lord to help you hold these open-handedly! Try to give them up for a few days or a week, no excuses. It's so hard because we feel this entitlement to "treats" when we have a bad day or long day. I'm not saying it's wrong to have sweets or watch TV. We just have to be so careful not to fill our voids with these things. God is dealing with me on this issue almost hourly, so you are not alone! Let me know what you need to give up and I will pray for you!