The Bible contains relevant principles that you may apply in your recovery from anorexia. God’s word can help you address underlying issues, and He can help you progress in your recovery. Be honest with yourself and search the Scriptures for what you need.
Some who have anorexia are actually starved for love. It may not seem that way, and they may not have realized it themselves yet, but underneath that is how they feel deep down. Many have experienced deep rejection and struggle because others do not understand them, so they just want to be loved and understood. Those feelings surface in restricting food intake, in starving themselves. If you feel this way yourself, there is One who loves you beyond description.
God’s love for you can penetrate anything. In fact, whether you actually feel it or not, it is always there, and nothing can separate you from it. Romans 8:38, 39, tells us this. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Do your best to meditate on Scriptures like this to help you be in tune with God’s love.
You may feel that it is only right to deprive yourself, that you don’t deserve the nourishment you need. Those feelings of unworthiness may drive you to restrict your food intake. But please try to remember that God created you, that He loves you deeply and wants you to be healthy. Therefore, He does not see you as someone who does not deserve to eat. Look at what He says about you in Zephaniah 3:17, The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. He loves all of His children the same, so you can take this verse personally. He loves you so much He takes delight in you. Certainly then, you cannot be unworthy of needed nourishment.
Maybe you feel it’s okay for you to eat, but you are too afraid to do it. There are many possibilities that may be driving this fear. Please remember that God’s love is an antidote to fear. So again, try to tune into His love. Perhaps meditating on Ephesians 3:17-19 will help you to do just that. …And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God. God’s love reaches deeper than any hurt or rejection you have experienced. Let it penetrate your heart.
Even if you have anorexia, these Bible verses, and many others can help you in your recovery. The Bible is full of relevant principles to touch you where you are. Why not go ahead and search the Scriptures for yourself? You might be surprised at what you find and how much the Bible can encourage you in your recovery.