This story was submitted to the blog by a girl who has struggled for years with an eating disorder. But that's not how this story ends. Keep reading to see how God has worked in the life of "Anonymous" this year.
I have struggled with anorexia for most of my life, and I never thought I was good enough for God to love ME. On January 1st my mentor prayed with me on that Sunday morning. She prayed that this is it—this is the year of complete healing and restoration from anorexia. The next Sunday, January 8th, I was baptized. From that point on I prayed constantly, I worshiped Him whenever I could, I was searching His Word every moment I had, and most of all I thanked Him for what He was doing and what He was going to do. Every day I ask Him to show me how He sees me and tell me what He thinks of me.
I was battling all the time with doctors. I would pass out constantly, my fingers and toes and lips would turn blue from being so cold from a circulatory condition, and my thyroid was fried. But in a year and a half I went from eating maybe once a week to three meals a day. He healed my numb toes. He healed my pain. But most of all He is healing my heart.
This past spring He gave me a dream. I would open up a salon and serve women who long to be beautiful, but also women who don't know their worth. He showed me that everyday I would glorify Him with praying over these women and teaching them to be set apart from the lies the enemy brings.
Does your story sound like Anonymous' story? Maybe so.
- The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that eating disorders affect more than five million Americans each year.
- Fifteen percent of young women have substantially disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. (That's more than one in ten.)
- Each year millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. More than 90 percent of those who are affected are young women just like you.
Those numbers can easily overwhelm us, but they represent the lives of young women who need to know their value according to God's Word.
If you're struggling with an eating disorder, I pray that this year will be your year to find freedom. You can move in that direction by following in Anonymous' footsteps.
- She told a wise, Christian mentor.
- She asked people to pray for her about her eating disorder.
- She looked for hope in God's Word rather than food or a certain clothing size.
- She recognized that her eating disorder is ultimately a heart issue and allowed God to work in her heart.
- She trusted God for a bigger vision for her life beyond food and weight.
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, let me encourage you that you can find freedom just like Anonymous has. Let her story be your plan of action for this year.
