Thirteen years ago, my understanding of food completely changed.
Before that moment, I defined food by convenience. If I could heat it in the microwave, pull it from a box, or grab it at a drive-through window, I considered it food. I rarely stopped to think about what my body was created to need or what God intended when He designed it.
I had placed almost everything into the category of “good enough.” I assumed that if my choices weren’t truly beneficial, I could somehow avoid the consequences.
Then I got sick.
And through that experience, God used my circumstances—and my doctor’s instructions—to reshape the way I viewed food.
At first, I saw my doctor’s plan as simply a healthier way of eating. I added more fruits and vegetables, removed refined sugar and bread, and began choosing foods that were closer to the way God originally created them. I started paying attention to the difference between what was made for nourishment and what was made simply for convenience.
(And yes, I had to admit that calling chocolate a vegetable just because it comes from a cocoa bean wasn’t exactly the point!)
As I lost twenty pounds, gained energy, saw my skin improve, and experienced restored health, I realized something deeper: caring for my body wasn’t just about following a diet. It was about honoring the Creator who designed me.
God’s design has purpose.
A Picture of God’s Design
Imagine building a car and designing it to run on gasoline. It wouldn’t matter how much someone wanted it to run on lemonade—the car wasn’t created for that fuel. Putting the wrong thing in the tank would prevent it from functioning the way it was designed.
Our bodies are similar.
God created us with intention, and He provided what we need to function well. The closer we stay to His original design, the more we allow our bodies to work the way He intended.
This is what it means to say yes to what is beneficial and no to what is harmful.
In the beginning, God gave mankind the gift of food from His creation. Genesis 1:29 says, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”
God looked at His creation and called it good. He provided food that would sustain, strengthen, and nourish the people He made.
But after sin entered the world, humanity began altering what God created. Just as sin affected every part of creation, it also changed the way we interact with food. Today, much of what we call “food” can be far removed from the original ingredients God provided.
The Goodness Found in God’s Provision
One of the things I love about God is that He never creates without purpose.
He didn’t make fruit simply because it tastes good. He made it because it nourishes us.
He didn’t create vegetables to frustrate us. He created them with nutrients and compounds that help our bodies thrive.
Isn’t it amazing that the same God who created us also provided the things we need to care for the bodies He gave us?
I would not be honest if I said I always eat perfectly. I still enjoy chocolate, chips, and the occasional crème-filled donut. I believe there is room for celebration and enjoyment.
But there was a season when I completely lost sight of caring for my health. Today, I’m choosing to be more intentional—to remember that my body is a gift and that what I put into it matters.
Every day, we make choices about what fuels us—not just physically, but spiritually as well.
The question is: Are we choosing what helps us live the life God created us to live?
Will you join me in seeking His design?
Additional Resources
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- Relational
- Physical
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