“Have Peace”

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Verse Reflections:  And again, this verse tells me that troubles will come.  So often, I try to pray for troubles not to come my way.  So often, I try to associate troubles with sin or choices we make.  So often I try to think those who appear to have no troubles are closer to God.  It would be so much easier to think if we are good we will avoid troubles.  God is telling us that we will have troubles no matter what.  In the same verse He is telling us that He has overcome the world so we need to realize that peace is not determined by the circumstances we are going through.  We can have peace no matter what is happening in our lives.  He reminds us that “in Him” we might have peace.  There is no other way to have peace.  We cannot use over-eating as a path to peace.  Indulging in processed foods gives us a temporary high.  It literally calms our body.  The glucose causes our pancreas to release insulin.  The insulin causes our cells to absorb the sugar which takes tryptophan, which makes us calm and sleepy, and converts it into serotonin or the “happiness molecule”. We have a lot of amino acids in our body but when we eat carbohydrates all of the amino acids are removed or blocked except for tryptophan.  The tryptophan then has a clear path of absorption into the brain cells giving us that wonderful feeling of happiness for a short period.  That is why we have to watch the number of carbs that we ingest.   So, it is normal to crave carbohydrates or sweets.  They literally fool our brain into thinking we are happier.  Know that and fight it.  We must not use eating to give us peace or temporary happiness.  I will tell you that I do this very unconsciously.  I am trying hard to bring this process to the front of my conscious life choices.  I will often find myself get off the phone with one of my sisters (who are my best friends) and realize that I am heading for the grocery store, kitchen or drive in because we have talked about a difficult subject.  This verse helps me put everything in perspective.  Troubles will come.  God has overcome them and this world.  We do not need to use food for an hour long peace when facing these troubles.  We need to find our peace in God.

Prayer:  Okay Lord, I am coming to You with all my troubles.  I am giving You anything and everything that causes me stress.  I love You and I do depend on You for peace.  Take away my desire for foods to give me a temporary peace.  Allow me today to limit my carbs.  It helps me to realize what is happening subconsciously when I crave processed foods.  It helps me to know that I am not crazy.  There are times Lord when my cravings feel uncontrollable but I do realize that my cravings are the result of my anxiety or the result of carbs that I have already eaten that are creating a vicious cycle of cravings.  They are not the result of satan’s power.  Let me turn to You as my sugar high.  Let me turn to you when that anxiety tickles my brain tricking it into wanting food.  You have overcome the world.  Help me overcome my eating addictions and cravings.