I realize this might not be a popular topic. And it’s not good timing either, with the holidays coming up. But it’s something that has surfaced in my own life, and I bet I am not the only one who has dealt with this.

Sugar is a dangerous addiction. There, I said it. (Or wrote it!) In fact, sugar can be even more addicting than cocaine. [1] We all know that sugar can affect our health. [2] Yet many of us are reluctant to let it go.

I am not a health professional. You can certainly do a web search and find information on sugar and how addictive it is. I also have some links in the post that you can check out.

Today I just want to share some things that I have learned about sugar and its addictive pull.

Have you ever had a cookie or donut or some sort of pastry, which in the beginning you didn’t even like it all that much, but somehow you found you “had” to have it? That has happened to me, at different times, with different sweets. Initially I didn’t put it together, but I am learning that is how addictive sugar can be. There have been times when I didn’t want to eat a particular treat, yet I felt compelled to eat it at the same time. And then after I did eat it, I felt guilty.

I also found out how quickly one can spiral into this addiction. One week you are doing well with your eating habits, the next not so much. It is scary, to be honest.

Personally, I have found that my mind is not as clear when I have had too much sugar. I don’t like having a fuzzy head, so that alone makes me want to stay away from it.

I also discovered that one addiction can lead to another. When I was trapped in a sugar hold, I generally felt unsatisfied. This, in turn, led me to reach for other things, such as shopping on Amazon. Sugar created a hole in my soul, and I attempted to fill it with anything else that I could get my hands on.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. Often times we are trying to fill a void that only Jesus can fill. Poor eating habits can be a spiritual issue. The enemy will use anything he can to pull us away from God. Sometimes that means we will seek a treat to eat when we are feeling down or stressed. Instead, we should be going to the Lord in prayer.

So, what can we do to get out of this sugar pit?

A sugar fast is a great place to start. Your body might feel junky the first few days, and you might be cranky as well. But once you get over the hump, you will feel better, you will have mental clarity, and you will have more energy. Eventually you won’t even miss sugar. Some people do a sugar fast for a certain length of time. But many people across the globe have decided to lay down sugar for good. That is a personal decision between you and God.

For me, at this point in my life, I want to be able to enjoy a treat every now and then. But I don’t want to get sucked into a downward spiral again. This means finding a balance while proceeding with caution. As they say, knowledge is power. The fact that we are aware of sugar’s pull will help us to stand strong.

If you still want to enjoy treats that are sugar free, there are options out there. You can find sugar-free cookies in the grocery store. Or you can even obtain some sugar-free cookbooks. And while you are at it, there are also lots of great books out there that talk about the destruction sugar can cause. However, one note about switching to sugar-free options: if you want to draw closer to the Lord, make sure you are not turning to your new sugar-free treats instead of Him.

When I read the 40-Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake, I appreciated a few of the tips she shared. Wendy said, “A few years ago I made the choice to only eat special treats in the company of family and friends.” And Wendy also went to suggest that we, “Package up any leftover cookies and cake and send them home as a gift to your loved ones.”

If you think sugar has a hold on you, I invite you to prayerfully consider your next steps. Do you feel the Lord is prompting you to lay down sugar, either temporarily or permanently? Or perhaps you might consider cutting back on sugary treats?

If you don’t have a problem with sugar at all, I am truly glad. But perhaps you still might seek the Lord to see if there is anything in your life that He is asking you to set aside?

When we remove any roadblocks we have in our spiritual lives, the rewards are well worth it. We will find a closer walk with Jesus, and much more peace and contentment in our lives. May we seek the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal anything that might be holding us back in our relationship with Him. May we remember that Jesus is enough. He is all we need. The Lord is our portion.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35

Thank you for reading!

[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/experts-is-sugar-addictive-drug#What-is-an-addiction?
[2] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/too-much-sugar#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3