Easter for the Anorexic

The Easter Sunday Scenario

It’s Easter Sunday, and the sun is shining brightly. The daffodils are blooming outside. The grass is finally starting to look green again.

You sit on a hard wooden pew in the old church sanctuary. You are surrounded by a sea of people who seem genuinely joyful. They sing “Victory in Jesus” with loud voices. Your head just spins.

Their cheerful voices echo throughout the entire sanctuary. But Satan’s voice is the only thing you can hear right now.

That victory will never be yours, Satan taunts you. Conquering your current habits isn’t just pointless; it’s unwise. The calorie counting, the calorie burning, the calorie obsessing…those things keep you safe. Don’t bother trying to conquer those habits unless you want to look like a sumo wrestler for the rest of your life. Victory isn’t for you.

You swear he’s right. You don’t think victory applies to you. It’s for the people who are singing “Victory in Jesus” right next to you and are meaning it.

In your mind—the mind that Satan has taken control of—the concept of victory is a myth. However, the concept of fear is very real.

You worry about what your parents will say if they notice that you’re not enjoying the ham, rolls, and pie at lunch. You panic about what your siblings will say if they notice that you’re throwing out the Easter candy from the family egg hunt. You panic about stepping on the scale the day after Easter and seeing your weight increase by two ounces because you ate a few jellybeans before bed.

Victory Is Possible…

For several years, that was my Easter, too. In fact, that was my life.

Church was just another place to play the comparison game. Holidays were just another occasion to hate on myself for eating sweets. Hosting company was just another opportunity to panic about when I would have time for my workout. 

Honestly, those things are still true for me. I still struggle! My priorities still aren’t straight. I have so much growing to do and so much priority-rearranging to take care of.

But this is what I’ve gained since my anorexia days (besides a few pounds): Victory is not a myth. Not with Jesus Christ, our ultimate Victor. Victory applies to you if you belong to our victorious Lord and Savior.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37 NASB)

…But Don’t Expect a Perfect Victory

By the way, I know Easter may still be hard for you, even if you choose victory. Eating big meals, being surrounded by sweets, and having to make time for exercise is scary. Those things terrify me.

But I’ll survive if my Easter dress from last year doesn’t fit. So will you.

I’ll survive if I have to eat a piece of cake. So will you.

I’ll survive if I miss a workout after church. So will you.

I’ll survive if I’m not the thinnest girl on the church pew. So will you.

Friends, please don’t let Satan steal your victory. Don’t believe him when he tells you that you can’t conquer anorexia. Or that you will always struggle with food and exercise. Or that you will always feel like the fattest human on earth.

Jesus conquered Satan when He rose from the grave on Easter morning. He is willing to help you overcome your anorexia. Freedom isn’t far, friends.