For When I Need to Reset My Tastebuds (Sugar Sober Series AND Word of The Week)
19October 5, 2014 by Beth Hess
If you’re new to the blog, let me briefly explain that Sundays are the day I select and post a Word of the Week — a scripture to focus on during the coming days. And The Spirit has been faithful to speak to me over these first days of 31 Days Sugar Sober. So consider this a BOGO post. #sugarsoberoctober and #justbebethwordoftheweek
In January 2011, I turned the calendar page with the same old resolution. And I gave up sugar for the month. Then I wondered if I could go two. And by March, I got a crazy hair to go all year.
So I did. I really and truly did go a year without sugar. No cake on my birthday. No ice cream in June. No chocolate at Easter. No cookies at Christmas.
But I really hadn’t planned any further than that. So when we took a cruise in January 2012, I ordered the sugar-free dessert for the first 3 days, and I stayed away from the 24-hour ice cream machine. Because I was nervous. According to my self-imposed year, I was free to enjoy it again. But my soul knew I wasn’t really free from its hold on me.
My soul was right.
On the ship’s formal night, I allowed myself the special decadent, oozy, chocolate dessert.
And I didn’t stop eating sugar for another 2 1/2 years.
I had resisted my screaming taste buds for more than 365 days. But I hadn’t reset them. I still thought sugar tasted good. I guess I still do.
Scripture suggests an alternative. And provides a promise.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:8,10)
God was very clear with me when He told me to release sugar again and find satisfaction in Him instead. And When God asks for something to be given up, He gives it back with even more. An abundance of the good stuff.
Moses’s mother put him into the river, thinking she might be sacrificing his life. But he was restored to her WITH PAY (Exodus 2.) Jesus took the lunch of a small boy and fed a huge crowd WITH LEFTOVERS (Matthew 14.) The wine ran out at the wedding, but Jesus made more from water AND IT WAS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL (John 2.)
Because He is Good.
Sweeter than any sugar.
P.S. Click here to read previous Word of The Week entries.
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In response to the 31 Day blogging challenge, I will be publishing EVERY DAY in October while I stay sugar-free. You can read previous posts HERE. To be alerted to new posts, please follow me on Facebook or Twitter using the links on the right side of this page. Or Subscribe to get posts sent to your Email. Feel free to Tweet your own experiences with #sugarsoberoctober as well.
PLEASE use the comment section to share your own thoughts, questions, or experiences. Like any road, sugar sobriety is one more easily walked with friends. I do my best to reply to every comment.
Just Be Beth 
[…] and encourage me to eat. I get to decide what I want to put in my body and what I don’t. Day 5: Resetting Your Taste Buds.: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. The lions may […]
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When you put it like this – “Taste and see that the Lord is good” – wow, it certainly takes your words and actions of faith and sets them on the line. Testing them. And I’m thinking right now, how very gutsy that is. How humble. For how often do I do that in such a sacrificial, tangible way? To even make space for him to fill? Not often enough. Once again, I am learning so much from you, Beth.
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It’s a moment by moment question for me. Will I taste the temporary in lieu of the eternal? Will my soul or my flesh get its way? Sacrifice? Yes, I suppose it is. But I keep the faith that once this root is completely dug out, the tree of life that grows in its place is going to be STUNNING!
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Did you change your blog header, Beth? I really love the tree.
“When God asks for something to be given up, He gives it back with even more.” So true, Beth, but still hard for me to remember as I’m prying my hands open!
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I did change the header, Kelly, yes. Thanks for noticing. : )
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So, so powerful. And just what I needed today (after four apple cider donuts yesterday…)
Thanks for sharing so openly – you have the gift of encouragement as well! #grateful
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God’s Yes is always good. (Bet those donuts were yummy!)
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He is very clear, isn’t he? And you are right, he gives back abundantly, of the very best stuff. Thanks for sharing your journey.
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Everywhere Jesus went, He brought abundance. He is so, so good.
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“Because He is good. Sweater than any sugar.” I just love how you ended this. This also makes me think of Lysa TerKeurst’s book “Made to Crave.” We were made to crave Him. Continuing to keep you in my prayers as you take this journey, friend. {Hugs}
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Made to Crave has certainly been an important read for me, indeed. Appreciate your prayers. Always.
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I find this so interesting, as I’ve been feeling that I should seriously cut back on sugar. I find myself NEEDING sugar especially on stressful days, and I don’t like it! I’ll definitely continue following your journey!
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I’m not sure I would have believed how addictive sugar was for me until I personally experienced how quickly I traded in a year Sugar Sober for one more taste after another. Yes, I NEEDED it and would do just about anything to get some. If we were talking about beer or drugs instead, we wouldn’t hesitate to call that an addiction, huh? Glad you’re here.
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Wow, this is so inspiring! I’m about to begin a serious diet change tomorrow, and super excited to see that it *is* indeed possible for sure.
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ALL things are possible. Hard, sometimes, but possible. You can do it!
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Sugar addiction is so tough. I struggle with this myself. Because of your post I am going to try to survive tomorrow without sugar. #31days
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Tomorrow is a great start. Glad you’re feeling inspired.
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This is very brave of you to take on this challenge so publicly. I was addicted to Coke for pretty much my entire life and when my kids were small they thought that the gas station was where we got candy because if I had to stop we were getting chocolate! Be encouraged! I gave up soda about 10 years ago and immediately lost several pounds. 5 years ago I got very serious and lost the extra 25 I needed to. As a result my kids (now adults changed their habits, my son who was addicted to candy the first half of college now acts as if all sweets are poison. My daughter teaches kindergarten and spreads the news of healthy food to her students. Change is hard, but only at first and you don’t know how far the ripples of your new better choices will go! Hang in there it is going to be so worth it!
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Thank you for this encouragement. It’s so easy to get into bad habits, but I’m counting on finding some good ones along the way that will stick. Always helpful to hear from others who have been there. Thanks again.
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