Have you ever seen a bag of cookies make a grown woman cry? It’s not a pretty sight.

Several years ago, I was feeling good about the progress I was making on a new healthy eating plan. Knowing that people who keep daily food diaries lose twice as much weight or more than those who don’t (Kaiser Permanente Study), the most effective part of my plan was the discipline of writing out each day’s menu in advance.

Much like our “Made to Crave” study, I was seeking more than just a quick way to lose weight; I was yearning to be closer to God. And the plan was going well until… Until that cookie craving hit.

The Craving

Actually, this went beyond a mere craving. I had a stress-induced, hormonally-charged, completely manic NEED for a Famous Amos cookie. Plants need water, humans need air, and I needed a Famous Amos cookie if I hoped to live to the end of the day.

At the time, Famous Amos cookies were my addiction of choice and like any other self-respecting addict I had carefully stashed away a bag for a rainy day. And it was pouring.

Without a second thought, I rifled through the pantry, cast aside rice cakes and veggies, grabbed my coveted bag and threw it on the counter. I eagerly ripped open the freshness seal, inhaled the sweet savor of chocolate and reached in to pull out a small handful (or two.)

They were beautiful. Perfectly round. Loaded with chips. Crisp yet moist. All of my problems were about to disappear as I mainlined my way to chocolate chip heaven.

The Meltdown

My hand was halfway to my mouth when I heard His voice. While it wasn’t audible, just as Abraham heard God staying his hand before he offered up his son, I heard God call my name. This cookie, this bag of cookies was not on my prewritten, firmly-committed-to plan.

Not to switch Biblical stories on you but just as Jacob and God wrestled through the night, God and I arm-wrestled that cookie down from my mouth and back onto the counter. And I wept. Yep. I stood there sobbing, tears literally streaming down my face all because I wanted that cookie. I had a fully-certifiable, stomp my feet and pound my hands, nuclear meltdown over a bag of Famous Amos cookies.

A thousand justifications came to my mind. It’s only one. You’ve been so good. No one will ever know. I’ll make up for it later. Who cares about a stupid food plan anyway?

The Temptation

But in my heart of hearts, I knew. I knew that I could never stop with just one. That if I went off the reservation now, I would never go back. I knew that there was more at stake than a simple cookie and a momentary thrill; I was considering deliberate disobedience to Almighty God. And didn’t all of mankind fall because Eve ate one little piece of forbidden fruit?

Like Lysa, “I had to remove myself from the source of temptation and I had to do it immediately.” I needed to flee.

The Rescue

I grabbed my car keys, ran outside and drove away. I didn’t feel righteous or good. I wasn’t flooded with peace from above. I wasn’t proud of myself for taking such a courageous stand. I was miserable. I waaaaaanted that cookie. Bad.

But I wanted God more. I don’t remember how many miles I drove that day before it was finally safe to go back home, but I eventually arrived. And it was okay. The cookies were just cookies, and I could throw them away. Sanity returned, and the joy of Jesus followed close behind.

The Lesson Learned

I learned a new strategy that day. Walk away. Run away. Do whatever it takes to stay obedient to God. I wish I were strong enough to live by the motto, ‘just say no,’ but I’m not. And I would rather have the neighbors whispering about that wild-eyed, tear-stained women driving manically around and around the block than have a costly setback just as I’m starting to let Him satisfy all my desires.

What About You?

 

What situations do you face where the best strategy is simply to flee?

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