If you are looking for strength, hope or comfort in your eating disorder recovery, consider looking to the book of Psalms. May the Lord strengthen you and give you peace as He speaks to you through His Word.
For hope and strength, you can go to Psalm 46. From verse 1 which says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” to verse 11 which states, “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” you can go to this Psalm when you need to know that God is with you and is strengthening you. You can find more of the same in Psalm 121. From verses 1 and 2, which declares “I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” to verses 5 and 6 which reassure, “The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” this short eight verse Psalm offers a lot of hope and strength.
There are some Psalms you may want to recite as prayers or at least read them to help you begin your own personal prayers. You might want to try verse 1 of Psalm 61 which reads, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” In the more desperate moments, you might want to try Psalm 141:1, “O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you.” Or to seek His mercy, you might want to go to Psalm 143:1, “O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.” Going to Psalm 6:3-4 may help you when you want to pour your heart out to the Lord. “My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.”
When you go to the book of Psalms in your eating disorder recovery, remember to also go to the Psalms of praise. Take time to praise the One who made you, who is walking with you in your recovery, who listens to your prayers, and who strengthens you and gives you hope. You might want to go to Psalm 95:1-3, “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” Psalm 100:4-5 speaks of praising Him. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” You also might want to go to Psalm 145:3. “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”
There are 150 Psalms. Therefore, there are many more verses in Psalms that you may find helpful. For hope, comfort and strength, and so much more, go to the book of Psalms in your eating disorder recovery. Let God speak to you through His Word.