Week 2

Trials!

My name is Patricia Platt. I am so blessed to be the reviewer of Week two on the topic, Freedom From Emotional Eating by the talented Barb Raveling.

Last week we studied truth and truth journaling. It was an eye-opener for me. This week we will be learning about how to recognize and handle trials as it relates to our Emotional eating.

Have you ever felt that life is just too hard? Too many trials? We know that God uses those trials for good, but that does not necessarily make it easy to accept, right? Our reaction most of the time is a negative one, and to find a way quickly, to get out of the situation. Most of the time the answer is, "I better get some ice cream or something to eat." That will make me “feel” better.

But, God wants to have good things come out of those trials. When we use food as an escape, we miss the message He is trying to convey. This week we will look at trials and ways to respond positively to help us be more like God.

Let’s think of that time when we had to wander in a desert for 40 years. Oh right, that was not us, that was the Israelites. They chose not to trust God and rely on their strengths.

In the Bible, it says that God was ready to bring His people to the Promised Land. God had already told the Israelites He was going to give them their very own land.

While they were in the desert, God promised the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses believed in God and when it was time, he sent 12 men to survey the land. 10 of the men brought back negative reviews stating that Israel can not conquer the promised lands. The people living there were too strong and mighty for them to conquer. However, only 2 men, Joshua and Caleb told the Israelites not to worry as they knew what God promised and that He was omnipotent and will give them the victory.

The other 10 spies were not so confident. They focused on their weaknesses and not on God's strength. They believed they could not conquer the land. They were willing to return to Egypt instead. When God intervened, and because they were faithless, their punishment was, never to see the promised land again. They wandered the desert for 40 years. During this time God prepared the hearts of their children to trust Him and possess the new land.

While the Israelites spent the next 40 years in the desert God used this time for His purpose of preparing His people.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 8 to learn God’s reason for allowing this and as you read this chapter think of your life.

Are you going through some things unpleasant?

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Could it be, that God has a purpose for you in that suffering?

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List God’s purposes after reading the following texts:

8:2 ____________________________________________

8:3 ____________________________________________

8:5-6___________________________________________

8:11-14_________________________________________

8:7,16___________________________________________

8:17-18 _________________________________________

Review what your findings were. Thinking about one of your trials. Do you think God may be trying to accomplish something in your life through your struggles? List any purposes you think God may have in your circumstance.

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God intended to bring the children of Israel to the promised land but needed to prepare them. That involved some sacrifice to chip away at all the old habits from Egypt. That involved some hard work and suffering.

God also has a purpose for the struggles we go through. He wants us to use these trials for needed change in our lives, We often resort to running to food for escape and comfort. When we turn to the food we miss out on the good things He wants to give us.

In your journaling, today, note down some of the beliefs you’ve had about a trial you are experiencing. Use Deuteronomy 8 to replace some of the lies with truth.

Truth journal _____________________________________________________________________

Situation_________________________________________________________________________

Emotion__________________________________________________________________________

Belief_____________________________________________________________________________

Truth_____________________________________________________________________________