By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” (Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72)
This may sound crazy, but I truly believe it was good for me to be afflicted with an eating disorder because in my desperation to be filled by something, I found the true filling of God through His Word.
Looking back over fifty plus years, I can see a common theme in my life—the power of words.
As a child, the careless words of others inflicted wounds to my self-esteem and squashed my spirit. Distraught, I eventually sought comfort through the control of food.
As an adult, the perfect Word of God became a healing balm to the wounds of my past.
Thankfully, I no longer seek to be filled with food. I seek to be filled with food for the soul—God’s Word.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
That which Satan sought to destroy, the Lord has used to make me whole. God has brought beauty from the ashes—His specialty.
“…He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)
God has brought great healing to my soul and turned my mess into a message.
“Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.” (Isaiah 61:7)
Lord, thank you for turning my disgrace into everlasting joy. I am eternally grateful! “How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.” (Psalm 116:12-14)
“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2)
