It was a normal evening until a little girl handed her mother a note: “I am sad and I do not know why.”
Her mother’s stomach dropped. Unsure what to do, she reached for Goldfish crackers, trying to soften the weight of the moment.
Have you ever done the same? When sadness, anxiety, or shame hits, you feel it in your stomach first… and food feels like the quickest fix.
But food cannot fix what only God can heal.
It was a hard lesson I had to learn on my own journey in overcoming emotional eating.
1. Why Our Stomachs Drop
Big feelings often show up in our bodies first. They don’t call them “gut feelings” for nothing!
Your gut and brain are connected through the Vagus nerve directly.
The gut has its own nervous system (the Enteric Nervous System) with millions of neurons that sense changes in your body and environment.
Stress, fear, or even joy can cause physical sensations like a stomach drop, butterflies, or knots. These are your body’s way of signaling, “Pay attention to me because something important is happening.”
Your body stores memories of past experiences. When something similar arises, your gut may react before your brain has time to reason it out.
That’s why some situations give you a “bad gut feeling” even before you know why!
That “gut punch” or “sinking” sensation can be scary. Unfortunately, many of us learned to comfort ourselves with food instead of facing the emotion.
2. Why Food Isn’t the Answer
Food may soothe for a moment, but the sadness, shame, or anxiety remains. God never designed food to carry emotional weight; food is a blessing meant to nourish us, not to numb.
3. The Better Way
1 Peter 5:7 says:
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
When your stomach drops, pause.
Remember, gut feelings can come from your body’s wiring, your past experiences, and can also be a place where God signals His guidance.
The key is learning to pause and discern: “Is this fear? Is this memory? Or is this the Spirit speaking?
Pray. Name your feeling before God, who loves and cares for you:
“Lord, I’m sad and I don’t know why.” Invite Him into that moment.
He promises to care for you in a way no snack ever could.
The truth is, we all have “stomach-drop” moments. They are not signs of weakness, but invitations to bring our hearts to God.
Instead of covering the feeling with food, let God cover you with His peace as He walks with you in healing – day-by-day, step-by-step.
He promises to complete the good work He has started in you (see Philippians 1:6)!
The Solution for Emotional Overload and Overcoming Emotional Eating
If you’re ready to walk more closely with the Lord in every area of life and others on the same healing journey, discover how the Take Back Your Temple program can help.
Yes now I’m learning to ask questions when I want something and I know I’m not hungry. I can say now I’m listening to my feelings and facing them by asking myself questions. Rusing to eat was a big thing for me. Now I’m learning to space time. I think for me I’d had to learn not to push pass my emotions face and talk about it. Name it and claim it amen.
Name them and claim God’s peace according to His promises. Amen, Renee!
Words of Wisdom as usual. Thank you Kim.
You are welcome, Beverly – God is good!