Other Than Bread

I’ve been reading in my Bible more and more, recently. And what I have been reading has surprised me, yet also has allowed me to understand why I still breathe.

Jesus states in Matthew 4:4 – “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’.”

I cannot eat bread in the way the rest of the world does. I cannot eat most of the food in the way the rest world does. Yet, it was not until a few years back that I found this out. Food allergies are not an easy thing to deal with, and they are even harder for a small child or infant to handle. My mom tells me stories of how I used to never eat or keep food down, as a young child or baby. Yet, I wondered, if food hardly ever reached my stomach how did I survive.

Now, I understand.

I understand why humans must fast, why I still breathe. Man does not survive on bread alone, but on God. If He wants you to live, to survive He will proved what you need. He will cleanse your body as well as your soul. He will also take distraction from your life – like food. That is why fasting is so important. It is a time to get yourself back inline with God’s will.

For me, normal food would have been a distraction. Without the pain I have suffered through within my life, I would have never ended up where I am today. I know this, because it has taken me some time to learn to surrender all to God.

I wanted my dreams and my life, first!

I don’t believe I would have ever placed God in the position He is growing into within my life had it not been for my food allergies – for my inability to eat Gluten or Corn (which in today’s world is in everything!). It is because my dreams and wants were stronger then my desire for God. The want of the things of this world, to fit in and take charge of your own destiny are so strong in humans. Yet, there is a strong desire to know God as well. I have learned to thank God for this hindrance in my life. I know my food allergies can only make me a stronger person in Christ (even though I would love to do without the pain).

~ by Joy on February 26, 2008.