We almost never have ice cream in our home, except for special occasions. This occasion was a special house guests. We had Turkey Hill Moose Tracks (Light, as if that matters – if you eat half the carton!) ice cream in the freezer. I was experiencing a rather crazy and highly emotional week. I opened the ice cream and sought refuge in this sweet treat.
I opened the half gallon tub and panned this treasure box to find the chocolate nuggets. I like to dig the nuggets out and eat them. I leave my hubby and kids with basically, vanilla ice cream. In the middle of this expedition, I experienced God speak into my heart, “if you would dig into my Word as diligently and eagerly as you’re digging into the tub of ice cream, you’d be doing a lot better right now.” Ouch. The truth hurts. Of course, God was right.
I was choosing food, not God, for my comfort. There is nothing wrong with ice cream (in moderation), but I was choosing to use it to comfort me. I dug into my Bible and found some delicious nuggets for my spirit and emotions.
“Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health.” Proverbs 4:20-22 (MSG)
I knew if I continued this pattern of overeating, I would be bursting something (like the button on my pants), but not with good health. As I searched this time tested treasure book and prayed, God led me to a powerful inspection as to why I kept turning to food for comfort. My mother died twenty years ago. For the past twenty years, I had been using food to comfort me to avoid dealing with my tremendous loss. Her presence is continuously missed not just on the big events like high school proms, college graduation, or my wedding, but particularly now that I’m wife, raising kids and growing in my faith.
God was so gentle, yet direct, in delivering His Insight. It was twenty years ago I learned how to improperly use food to sedate my emotions. Instead of experiencing emotions, I chose to deny them by distracting myself with a high calorie treat.
I was comforted by God word, “That’s right—if you make Insight your priority, and won’t take no for an answer, Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5 (MSG)
I have cried more this past year over Mom’s death than any of the past twenty years combined. I am happy because I know my Mom is in heaven. She believed in Jesus too. One of my most precious possessions is Her Bible, which has notes written all over it – just like mine. I find comfort in our faith bond. God’s comfort has brought me into acceptance and peace.
I am keenly aware now that instead of my panning an ice cream carton, I need to stay committed to pan my Treasure Book and its Author, for that is where the real nuggets are. It was God’s comforting, calorie-free, loving words that satisfied my true hunger. It was a spiritual hunger, not physical. His words continually comfort me back into emotional stability.
So I did find a valuable treasure on my biblical exploration. I am blessed to find wisdom and gain understanding. They both have more value than gold or silver or even chocolaty chunks dug from a certain Turkey Hill ice cream carton.
“Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.” Psalm 1119:72 (NLT)
