He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) (Gen. 25:30)
To identify what triggers unhealthy food cravings, Dr. Sherry Pagoto created a research app. Whenever research participants gave in to a craving, they hit the app’s “oops” button and logged details about their environment. Each week, the app gave participants feedback explaining what triggered their unhealthy cravings. Pagoto hoped participants would then change their environment to avoid the triggers and reduce cravings. Surprisingly, even participants who did not change their environments still ate healthier and lost weight.
Apparently, simply becoming aware of their triggers helped people overcome their cravings.
Tired, hungry, and frustrated from a failed hunting expedition, Esau craved red meat. Indulging this craving soon defined Esau’s reputation and future. He became known as “Edom,” meaning “red.”
When you are worn out, what do you crave? Shopping? Food? Entertaining escapes? Sexual fantasies? Instead of being defined by our cravings, God calls us to be defined by our relationship with him. Ephesians 4:22–24 says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Putting off our deceitful cravings takes intentional effort. Becoming aware of our triggers alerts us to turn to God instead of our cravings for comfort.
Identify your triggers and be defined by your craving for God.
Tamar Eisenmann and her husband are Wesleyan pastors from Jackson, Michigan. She is a Wesley Seminary doctoral student and a fan of Transformers, her kids, and Jesus.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
