January 27: Eat, Sleep, Then Keep Going
Everything feels hopeless today. Before you decide it is, when did you last eat?
“And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.”
Elijah had just seen one of the greatest victories in the Old Testament. Then a threat came, and he ran into the wilderness, sat under a tree, and asked God to let him die. He’d had enough.
What did God do? He didn’t scold him. He didn’t give him a sermon. He sent an angel who touched him and said: get up and eat. There was bread and water. Elijah ate and slept. Then the angel came again: get up and eat, because the journey is too much for you.
God fed him and let him sleep before He said anything else.
There’s a well-known warning in recovery circles: don’t get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. When any of those is high, cravings get louder and thinking gets darker. Elijah was hungry and tired, probably lonely too. No wonder everything looked hopeless.
Early sobriety asks a lot of your body. Alcohol may have been where a lot of your calories came from. Your sleep may be off. Your blood sugar may swing. And when your body is depleted, your mind starts telling you things like “this will never get better” or “one drink would help.”
Before you believe those thoughts, check the basics. Have you eaten real food today? Have you had water? When did you last sleep more than a few hours? Something sweet and a glass of juice can help when a craving hits hard. A nap can change the whole afternoon.
This is part of the honesty of Step One too. Admitting you’re powerless includes admitting you’re a body, with limits. You can’t white-knuckle your way through hunger and exhaustion forever. God built you to need bread and sleep, and He isn’t disappointed in you for needing them.
If your body is struggling in ways that scare you, like shaking or a racing heart, see a doctor right away.
Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.
One thing today
Eat three real meals today, even small ones. Drink water with each. Go to bed thirty minutes earlier than usual tonight.
A prayer
Father, I’m worn out and everything looks dark. Thank You for caring about my body. Help me eat, rest, and believe the journey isn’t over.
More on handling cravings here. This month: Step One.
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