7 Days of Hope for Overcoming Eating DisordersSample

## Grace Wins, Perfection Loses ED can be a nasty cycle you find yourself repeating. You wish there was a way out, but do not know where to find it. Perhaps, just when you thought you had found the way to healing and freedom, something triggered you, and after all the work you had put in, you suddenly found yourself in the pain and anguish of relapsing. Either way, the emotional toll of battling an eating disorder might leave you feeling hopeless. But don’t give up; there is hope! The pressure to make progress might start feeling like too much, triggering anxious and negative thoughts like “I’ll never beat this,” or “Things will never change.” But remember: progress is the goal, not perfection. Imagine yourself breaking free from the chains of perfection. Seriously, imagine it for a minute. How free do you feel? As of this moment, you have permission to remove any expectation of perfection from your healing process. On this journey, you will likely try new things, gain some wisdom, and get tripped up along the way. Making mistakes doesn’t mean you’re no longer healthy or capable. Our God is a God of infinite chances; keep pressing forward with His grace and hope in your heart. If you experience failures or doubts, remind yourself that God is still good, and He is still with you. He goes before you and He will never leave you or forsake you. His mercies are new every morning. When you start feeling overwhelmed by the road ahead, pause and reflect on this. > “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34) Focusing on the future can create anxious feelings when you realize all the work it will take and all of the right decisions you’ll need to make to stay healthy. But when you resist that temptation, focus on this day alone and all the opportunity it holds for you to do the will of God and honor Him with your choices, you can feel inspired and full of confidence that you are capable of winning this battle with Christ by your side. We were never meant to be perfect. God created us to need Him, to depend on His grace, mercy, and unconditional love. However, our goal as followers of Christ is to be as Christ like as possible. We must strive to follow His footsteps and live in a way that honors Him. One of the best ways we can do that is by forgiving just as He forgives us, which includes forgiving ourselves. If your journey is met with opposition, failures, or disappointment, don’t allow yourself to spiral into negative thinking and repeated mistakes. Forgive yourself, fix your eyes on Jesus, and focus on this beautiful day you’ve been given.