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Overcoming An Eating Disorder | Girls Gone Bible
01:13:26
Hiiii GGB! this week we go in depth into Angela’s journey with disordered eating and hear parts of her journey we haven’t heard before. you can order our new book “Out of the Wilderness— 31 Devotions to Walk with God Through Your Hardest...
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- [00:10]
Angela
Hi.
- [00:12]
Ari
Hi. Why.
- [00:16]
Angela
Why are we so weird? Holy.
- [00:22]
Ari
Holy. Yeah.
- [00:25]
Angela
Yeah, no, it was your. It was your solo. Hey, guys, I'm Ange and I'm. And this is Girls Gone Bible. We're a faith based podcast where we talk all things spirituality, mental health. We talk about a lot of things and we do everything from a biblical perspective. We love Jesus so much. He saved our lives and we would be nothing without him. Can you survive without him?
- [00:51]
Ari
I can't survive a second without him.
- [00:53]
Angela
Yeah, I can't do anything.
- [00:55]
Ari
I think my mom tells me, would you leave him alone? Because you're up his butt. Give him a minute.
- [01:01]
Angela
She really does say that again.
- [01:05]
Ari
More Jesus time. What about mother time? Would you give him a break?
- [01:09]
Angela
It's so funny. We are God's most annoying kids. For sure.
- [01:13]
Ari
Yeah.
- [01:14]
Angela
How are you all?
- [01:16]
Ari
Can you grab my blankie?
- [01:18]
Angela
Blankie your what? You brought your blankie today.
- [01:25]
Ari
Thank you.
- [01:26]
Angela
Why'd you bring your blankie today?
- [01:28]
Ari
I need it.
- [01:28]
Angela
Wait, that's cute. Is that gonna be your new thing? Well, show everyone the blanket. You're not. We're not gonna. You've had that since you were born?
- [01:37]
Ari
Yeah.
- [01:38]
Angela
I don't have one.
- [01:39]
Ari
Comfort.
- [01:40]
Angela
You got it at the hospital?
- [01:42]
Ari
No, my great grandmother made it for me.
- [01:44]
Angela
Oh, that's cute.
- [01:45]
Ari
Yeah.
- [01:45]
Angela
Do you wash it?
- [01:47]
Ari
Yeah, I washed it.
- [01:48]
Angela
No, I'm just wondering, I don't know.
- [01:49]
Ari
If it's like, do you wash. Do you wash my.
- [01:52]
Angela
Anyway, do you wash up? I'm doing good.
- [01:55]
Ari
How are.
- [01:57]
Angela
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- [04:57]
Ari
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- [06:18]
Angela
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- [07:29]
Ari
So I'm really excited about today.
- [07:31]
Angela
We're really excited about today. Yes. As a lot of you guys know, Ari and I wrote a devotional and it's right here. We have it in our hands and we are going to spend two episodes today and next week kind of talking about. We just want to take you through a devotional each and just talk about what it was like writing and just a lot of things about it. So writing this devotional for Ari and I was just insane. It was so fun. It was so beautiful, and it was really emotional. As a lot of you guys know, we've talked about it, but basically it's 31 devotions, 31 days of scripture, of a story from our lives, an anecdote, a moment in time where Ari and I experience something where we were in the wilderness, where we experience hardship, and then we kind of take you through, like, the mistakes that we've made, the wrong ways in which we were brought up, the bad things that happened that were out of our control, and just, like, where Jesus was in that. And I think that's just, like, such a beautiful way to heal, is to, like, go back to different times of your life, address it, feel it, move through it, and then see where Jesus was in that, you know?
- [08:47]
Ari
Yeah. And I think it's. It was. So what's special about this book is we were in the middle of a lot of what we were writing. I'm excited to talk to you today about this specific devotional, because I know that you were in the middle of it. Yeah, it's something you're still walking through. And so I'm really excited because I know so many people that are battling this, and I just know it's going to bless and free so many people today knowing they're not alone. So I'm excited to. To talk to you about this today and just. Just listen.
- [09:21]
Angela
Thanks.
- [09:22]
Ari
Yeah.
- [09:24]
Angela
Yeah. So today I want to take you guys through one of my devotionals. Devotions or devotionals. I just want to. And this one is called Overcoming Disordered Eating. So I. You. A lot of you know that I have been on a really long journey with disordered eating. And what's so interesting about writing a book is that you write a book, and then a year later, you're like, I would. I'm in such a different place. I would write this differently. I'd say this. I actually don't even agree. Not that I don't agree with this anymore, but, like, I would. I think about things differently. My relationship with Jesus, obviously, hopefully has progressed and developed and established more that you're just different. You mature. And so I look back on even this devotional about disordered eating, and I was writing from the moment in time that I was in. And when you read this devotional, you kind of see that. It's like, it's hopeful, there's a lot of hope in it because I had just received incredible, supernatural, miraculous breakthrough in my eating disorder. Which I will get to. And I have some things I want to tell you guys and some things that I am ready to share that I wasn't ready to share before. But so Ari and I also recorded the audiobook for this. And when I was doing the audiobook, I got to this part I didn't even cry in. I didn't cry in any of them, right? Like, I wasn't over, like, super emotional about them. And then I got to this one, my eating disorder, devotional. And I actually started to get ministered to by God. I started getting touched by the presence of God, by the spirit of God, as I was reading. Not because these are my words and I'm emotional about this thing that I'm, like, recounting. I actually got touched by the Holy Spirit through my own words, as if I wasn't the one who wrote them. I needed hope. The day I went in, I wrote from a place of hope because that's where I was at. I had hope. And since then, sometimes after, like, big breakthroughs, you're on, like, a high almost, and it's amazing. And then you then find yourself in a different, difficult place. And you won't. You forget. You forget what God brought you out of. You forget the beautiful things that have happened. And so I'm reading this and, like, the hope of Jesus actually, like, fills my heart. And so I say that to say, like, I'm not saying that this is the best book you'll ever read. I'm not saying that we're the most incredible writers. All I'm saying is that the Holy Spirit wrote these words and, like, we're not the most gifted people. But, like, the Holy Spirit spoke and, like, these are real life stories. And I just. I can't believe, like, the power of God. He ministered to me through my own words as if I didn't write them. You know, like, I had no connection to the person. Like, it was just Jesus speaking. So, anyway, so I just. We want to take you through it a little bit, right? This is day 25. It's called Overcoming Disordered Eating. And it gives a script. I gave a scripture. It's 1st Samuel 16, 7. The Lord said to Samuel, do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. And then Psalm 139, 14 says, I praise you because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. And Then I go on to give an explanation in context about the scriptures that I wrote talking about David. And I go on to write, it says, from Angela, because Ari will have a day, then I'll have a day. And it says, I often think of the younger version of myself. The one who began to be aware of her body way earlier than she should have. The one who was only 7 years old trying to starve herself so she could look skinny at the community pool. A child looking in the mirror, picking herself apart and pointing out everything she hated about herself. I have sat and had so many conversations with God, asking him why and when this started, who made a comment they shouldn't have, who judged my appearance, who made me feel like I wasn't good enough, and how God has it stuck with me all these years later. My complicated relationship with food began as early as I can remember. I start. I'd started going on crash diets when I was in middle school and in high school I would take medications that would ruin my appetite so I wouldn't eat. This was my normal and can. This was my normal and continued until my mid-20s. I've battled a decade long silent war in my relationship to my body and to food. And so, and then it goes on and then we have a part where then we lead you in prayer and then there's like space for you to write your own prayer and your own thoughts and yeah, a lot of you know that I've had a really, really crazy battle just with food and body image and just like my relationship to my body and my relationship to food and it's been really hard and like when there is. I've done a lot of things in my life that I'm ashamed of and shame is so funny because you can be ashamed of things that other people are like, why are you so ashamed of that? There's so much shame attached. Like I could talk about my past all day long. Now something happened in that like shame and past episode where just my heart was open to the fact that like I have to, I have to like talk about things. I have to talk about things that are like so shameful. Like if there's something that you are in a conversation and it's the one thing that you don't share, like it's, it's the one thing you need to share, you know. And so I battled a almost 10 year long battle with bulimia and it is so just insane to think about all that I went through in almost 10 years and how along the way a Couple people would know, a couple people would be told or even, like, find out and. But for the most part, like, it was silent. It was completely. I was alone in it. I didn't tell anybody. Mostly because I didn't want anybody to try to get me to stop. Like, you know what I mean? I didn't want anybody. And I was just so deeply ashamed. I'll never forget the first time I. I was, I believe, 19.
- [16:06]
Ari
Yeah.
- [16:07]
Angela
And I was 18 or 19, and I was in college, and me and my friend from college went out to dinner and. And this is not her fault by any means. This is just, like, girls, people. This is what happens. You influence people without even meaning to. And we had, like, just eaten dinner and we were both. And she had told me, like, I said something like, oh, I'm so full. Like, I hate. Right? I had been struggling with body stuff and starving myself my whole life practically, but never this. This was like, to, like, purge, to binge and purge, to, like, throw up on purpose, to remove food out of your stomach in order to not gain weight. Like, that was not even on my radar. I didn't know that even. Really. People did that. And this and this. My friend at the time, she goes, you know, the one way. She goes, you know, the best way. Or, like, what did she say? Like, it was just so. It stuck with me all these years. She was like, you wanna. You know, the best thing you can do, you can eat as much as you want and then you can go throw up. And I literally. My mind, like, just like the dysfunction in my mind already goes, this is amazing. This is an escape. It's a way out. It's a cheat code. It's like, so that. And that began. And like, I went through that in college. I, you know, went through just a really insane battle for 10 years that I can't even believe I'm talking about. I thought it was the one thing that I would never talk about.
- [17:39]
Ari
So proud of you.
- [17:40]
Angela
I love you. It's just so. It was so shameful for me and it still is. It feels so embarrassing. And I was just. I hated it. And it was an addiction. It was an addiction and it was like the control that I struggle with. I got to a point, like, our bodies are so meant to have, like, a mind, body connection. Like, your ma. Your brain knows when you're full. Your brain knows when you're hungry. And when you suffer with eating disorders like you. You cut off that connection. So my. And still to this day, I don't have full mind Body connection where my body gets like food sick. Like cues that like, you're hungry or you're full.
- [18:23]
Ari
Wow.
- [18:24]
Angela
I can eat a banana. I can eat anything. I can eat a protein bar and like feel like I've just had a three course meal. I don't have that connection that other people do.
- [18:35]
Ari
Why is that?
- [18:37]
Angela
Because you're just. You like abuse your body. When you abuse your body, you just, you sever it because you're not letting your body, allowing your body to do the normal thing that it does where it like you stop when you're full and you eat when you're hungry. I would like, not eat when I was full and then I would continue to eat even if I was full and say, oops, did it again. I'm going to go take care of it. I can't even really say like, throw up yet. I'm still like. It's just like really. It's so hard. It was such a devastating, like, dark. It's just crazy. Almost 10 years.
- [19:11]
Ari
Did you ever. Were you in so much shame that you didn't even talk to God about.
- [19:18]
Angela
Wasn't until I. My first few years of my relationship with Jesus, I was. It was like the one thing. It was almost like I had bigger fish to fry.
- [19:28]
Ari
Right. Right.
- [19:29]
Angela
So I was like, I was so anxious, I had so much anxiety. I was so like mentally unwell that that was just like. It wasn't until probably I was like 25, 26 where I. He started to speak and be like this, we have to address this. We have to write. Like, he gave me patience and grace, but I. It was just so, it was just so crazy. I was like, I had no food or like hunger cues. I didn't know when I was full. I. Then it became like a control thing where I became so hyper aware of how full I was. Because I was never full. Because either I wouldn't eat or I would throw up what I ate. Even if it wasn't like bad. Even if, like, I just. I. Then my brain conditioned me to think that if I like, you feel full and it's like, this is beautiful, great. Like I'm meant to feel full. Feeling full was bad for me. So no matter what I ate, like, sometimes there were times where it was like multiple times a day. Like it was really, really scary and really bad and I couldn't control myself. It was crazy. It was an addiction. It was a coping mechanism and it was horrible. And so I want to take you guys through. I got my journal yesterday and I've Only journaled for this one period of time for like seven months. And I need to start journaling again because I discovered so much about myself. So I write this devotional right after maybe like three months after. I didn't throw up for the last time or I threw up for the last time. I had fasted and prayed for probably a year about this. So just like with alcohol, I prayed for six months before I was delivered from it, and it never. I never drank again.
- [21:22]
Ari
When was this?
- [21:24]
Angela
So that was the alcohol. This would have been. I don't have the exact date, but I was trying for a long time. I was trying for a year. I would go a couple. I would go weeks without doing it. I would go a month without doing it. And then I'd fall back into it and I write about it in my journal. It was just like this. It was this cycle and I was trying not to. I was trying to break free and I was praying and I was fasting for a long time because it was so deeply ingrained in who I was that it wasn't just an option of just like, stop this. It was who I was. It was a part of my everyday. My mind became. And I don't know all the psychology behind bulimia and eating disorders, but I just want to read a couple of these. This is February 2nd, 2024. So this was a year and like three months ago now. So last night was my birthday dinner and I didn't throw up. Exclamation points. We're in Nashville here. Wow.
- [22:23]
Ari
And I had no idea any of this.
- [22:25]
Angela
Yeah. So Ari didn't know this yet? I actually told her recently. I told her after. I couldn't tell anybody until I knew. I beat it because I. I was so. I didn't know if it would come back. I didn't know if, you know, I would ever do it again. So I waited until I knew for sure that, like. Yeah. So I told Ari recently. I was so deep in shame that I couldn't even tell my best friend. That's how much I was just so embarrassed.
- [22:51]
Ari
This was in Nashville. My heart.
- [22:53]
Angela
Yeah. So I said I was trying so hard to get free. Like, I, you know, I didn't want to do it. I was like.
- [23:01]
Ari
We were in Nashville together.
- [23:03]
Angela
Yeah. On my birth, remember, we went to the Send. And we went to that restaurant with Ali and Ashley. I was so proud of myself. I was working through, like, eating a meal and then not throw. Like, it's crazy. So last night was my birthday dinner, and I didn't Throw up, exclamation points. Wow, Jesus. It was really cool. I felt the Holy Spirit's empowerment, and it felt really good. I just felt a calmness about it. Like, every time a thought came, the Holy Spirit tore it down immediately. If you could just help me in this area, though, Jesus. So I don't focus too much on the negative because I see so much how it. Because I see so much how you have moved so much. And I'm so grateful. Like, I know it's my birthday, but my stomach hurt after. I don't want to feel like that. Can you help me on that, Jesus? Like a surgeon. Go into my brain. Can you train my brain not to stress so much when I'm bloated? Like, it's really not that big of a deal. And then I go forward. And then this was a moment where. So I was in Nashville, and I had, like, gone through, I think, a couple of months. I love you crazy. I had gone through a couple of months of. I think I was free. And then this is a moment where I fell into it again. This is February 6th, 2024. Hi, Jesus. I almost feel like I'm coming to you with my tail between my legs. So I had my birthday in Nashville, and I did not throw up the whole week. It was absolutely incredible. I felt such an empowerment from the Holy Spirit. I just felt like I had overcome it. The thought would come into mind, and then it would just pass by. I didn't feel out of control. But then. I can't say exactly what it was, but I was listening to a phone call about a family member that was really hard for me. And so I got really triggered. My anxiety got triggered. And it's. I wanted. Right. To go somewhere that would release you. Yeah. And then there was such a wrestle within my heart. I got in the car, and I was still wrestling. I was contemplating and debating in my head. It's honestly really sad to think about. I didn't want to do it. I was trying not to. But then someone called me. It was the perfect storm. Something happened with this person, and it just sent me over the edge. I'm not using it as an excuse, but I'm. But it was miserable. I'm paying for it today. So much shame and guilt. Jesus. I have a question. I didn't ruin all the progress. Right. I can still have that empowerment from the Holy Spirit. I repent from the sin. I turn from it. I ask for your forgiveness, Lord Jesus. Please forgive me. F, Father. And now send me your Holy Spirit to help Me, I can' do this on my own. I need you, Jesus. I need your help. I'm never going to binge and throw up again. I decree and declare right now that I am free from the all or nothing mentality in Jesus name. And then.
- [25:59]
Ari
Okay. Jesse, do you have issues?
- [26:05]
Angela
That's so sad.
- [26:09]
Ari
Oh, my God.
- [26:10]
Angela
I. That. Thank you. I know. All right.
- [26:17]
Ari
I did not know you were going to read that.
- [26:20]
Angela
I'm sorry. It's. I documented my whole wrestle and my whole struggle. Wow. It was such a fight. I was fight. It felt like I was fighting for my life.
- [26:29]
Ari
I can't believe I. I didn't know it.
- [26:32]
Angela
I know. It's okay. Are you okay with this?
- [26:36]
Ari
Yeah.
- [26:36]
Angela
Okay.
- [26:37]
Ari
It's crazy when you. When you read that, how much just how the enemy works with the shame being like, it's okay, right? Like, I made progress. Am I going to be punished? I repent.
- [26:50]
Angela
Yeah.
- [26:51]
Ari
Yeah.
- [26:51]
Angela
It's so the shame cycle is. Shame is a killer. And I. And so another thing, something that happens from bulimia, from throwing up is your face gets super puffy. And so if you look back at the podcast, my face looks, like, completely different. And that was the. One of the hardest, hardest parts of it for me because I felt internal shame. And then I felt like I wore the shame on my face. Like, I look, every time I looked in the mirror, I was reminded of what I was doing and what I didn't have control over. And I hated how I looked for vanity purposes. Like, I was miserable. Remember, I would tell you, I'd be like, I feel so ugly. And I wouldn't tell you why and be like, what are you talking about? And I'd be like, I hate my face. Like, I hate how I look. Look. And like, that's why this was happening. And February 18, I said, Jesus, I was doing so good with the eating. I was having meals, trying a bite of everything, and then leaving it at that. And then all of a sudden, I let it happen at once. And then it's like I fully lose control. I'm starting to, like, study and watch what happens. It really is the scripture when. Where. When the seven come back stronger. But it is getting better. That I can say. But also the shame and guilt are getting stronger as well. And as awful as it is, I'm thinking it's a good thing. I'm glad that I see myself differently afterwards. It's becoming less and less. The throwing up. We're beating it, and hell is so mad about it. Thank you for all you do for me, Jesus, seriously, I love being teammates. I love being team Jesus. I love our relationship. I love you. And then the next day I said, father, I had two rough days of eating. I'm feeling super insecure and self conscious about my face, the puffiness. What do you think? Can we take away the shame and guilt and have me start over fresh and have me a. And. And have me. I wanted Jesus to miraculous me, make me not puffy. I wanted him to like. And he said. And I said, or is it a good reminder to not do it again? I was in this. Like, I wasn't accepting his love. I wasn't accepting grace. I thought that he. I thought that he was punishing me and I was like, inflicting his punishment on myself. Like, I. I didn't understand yet that he's like, I love much. Just come, let me take care of it. I was like, I deserve punishment. I'm here. Like, I didn't even have a right understanding of who he was. Wow, isn't it so crazy? So this is February 22nd. God, without you. I truly live in hell on earth. Like, it's actually insane. Being here in New York was. When we were in New York. Being here in New York should have felt fun, but I truly feel miserable, bound. God, I've been so bound by binging and I'm wearing it on my face and it's absolutely killing me. I see the sin when I look at myself. I feel hideous, but I feel like I deserve to feel this way. Jesus, I'm so ashamed. So much shame for all the binging. Absolutely out of control. I know I can't be possessed because of the Holy Spirit, but it literally feels like possession. Please, Jesus, I want to obey your command. I hate this sin. I don't want it. I'm begging you, Father. You know what I love? I've never had a right relationship with the Father, but I always talked to the Father when I needed him in this area. Like, I knew, I knew he'd come and I knew he'd do it. Bring it to a close. Put an end to this toxic cycle of binging. I need help. I surrender this to you and I tell you that I can't overcome it without you. I don't have the strength or the tools. Father, I'm asking you to provide the way for escape from me. Bring me the tools and resources. Bring me the help I need. Help me. I've. I've come to the end of myself. I was so out of control. I never want to deal with this Again. I said don't remove your hand. Cover me in Ari. Jesus, protect us. Cover us in your blood. It was always you. Don't remove your hand from my life, Father. I need you, Jesus. He thought. I thought that he was gonna remove his hand from my life.
- [31:04]
Ari
You thought. He was so mad at you.
- [31:08]
Angela
I thought he hated me for this. I need you, Jesus. Bring me close. I'm staying pure. I'm staying obedient. I'm staying pure, Jesus.
- [31:19]
Ari
Please don't take your hand from me.
- [31:21]
Angela
Dear Jesus. God, I need you so badly. Sadly, how do I get this stronghold off of me, Jesus? I am binging and throwing up such an uncontrollable amount. The past two weeks have literally been non stop. My face is huge. I don't even recognize myself. Please, Jesus, help me get help. Who do I tell? Please, Jesus, you've helped me with everything up until now. I just called a Christian counselor with tears in my eyes. I actually feel a little bit of hope. I feel a glimmer of hope. Do people actually ever recover from this? I am battling a violent eating disorder alone. Not a single person knows it. It's time to end. I'm so tired of feeling shame. I am done with living in secrecy. The enemy's hold on me is coming to an end. I rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I am overcoming this. Kill the sin, Jesus. Kill the addiction. I love you so much, Lord. This March 7th. I love you so much, God. Thank you for who you are. Wow. I almost binged after dinner last night. And I received empowerment from you not to. I literally overcame the temptation through power from your spirit. It was such a good feeling. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. No temptation has overtaken you that is uncommon to man. Sin is crouching at the door. You're eager to control you, but you must subdue it and become its master. I'm just repeating scripture.
- [32:54]
Ari
What? When was this?
- [32:55]
Angela
That was March 7th. So this is about a month before I stop. I don't know when this is. This. A little while later. Hi, God. Today is the definition of coming boldly to the throne of grace. I need mercy. I need help, Jesus. I've really failed the past few days. My p. My face is practically disfigured. I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin with shame. I'm so disappointed and I feel so out of control. I need you. I need the Holy Spirit. I need help. I'm coming. Coming to you on my hands and knees, nose to the floor. Broken and ashamed. But I'm not running from you. I'm coming to you. I need you Father. Please wrap your arms around me. Release me from the shame, Father. Kill the sin. Give me self control. I receive your help today, God. I repent from the sin. I hate it. It is my enemy. I hate it. I come out of agreement with binge eating bulimia and I turn from it, never to return again. I just. April 2, 2024, I so since that last one which was in March, I had never wrote about bulimia again. By April 2nd, God, together we'll overcome every sin and temptation. Thank you for healing my eating disorient eating disorder. This area stays under the blood of Jesus by his stripes. I am heale miracle working Jesus and I never wrote about it again. So that is how you beat something. That's how you fight through something you like. I was reading this yesterday and feeling like I was going through hell and I kept trying and I kept going and I kept saying, I know, I know I'm going to beat this. I know Jesus is going to free me. And it didn't happen overnight. I fought so hard for what felt like a really long time and through fasting and prayer and falling down and getting back up and it's just so insane.
- [34:59]
Ari
First of all, I just want to thank you because you don't understand. Like her even telling me was one of the hardest things she had to do. So for you to sit up here today and like read a journal and be so vulnerable and so brave to speak on one of the most embarrassing things that you've ever had to go through and shameful things to help these people.
- [35:31]
Angela
Yeah, it's just.
- [35:37]
Ari
I'm just so, so, so proud of you. And I know Jesus is looking down at you being like, that's my girl. And you've been that seed for me of no matter what comes your way, like you fight, you fight and you don't run from him and you never have through every single hard battle in your life. And that's why I have been able to fight so hard in my own life.
- [36:05]
Angela
I love you so much when I.
- [36:07]
Ari
Know that's why so many other people are able to fight so hard. Because you're strength. You're the definition of strength.
- [36:17]
Angela
And so thank you. I love you. Amazing.
- [36:22]
Ari
I just know how hard this is for you, so I don't know. It's amazing. Boy, have you beat it. And I know you're still walking through some stuff, but.
- [36:34]
Angela
But I never did it again. I stopped that One last time. And I remember being like, I don't remember. I don't remember what time it was. I don't remember the moment it was. I don't remember. But I remember having couple weeks of being like, am I free? But, like, not fully knowing if I was, but being like, I. There was a moment where I really knew, like, I'm never doing this again. And it's like, the alcohol. I will never do it again. I've never had. Not that I haven't had the temptation. Like, there have been moments where I felt really full, but my mind has never gone there even one time in over a year.
- [37:13]
Ari
Can you take us through the process? Because I know you wrote through. You wrote through, like, what was happening and, like, how you felt shame. You kept going back. But can you take us through the process of, like, the end of it? Like, the day you were like, it is finished. Can you just take us through that process? Because so many girls are just probably watching, being like, I can't. How do I beat this? I keep saying, I'm gonna stop, and then I don't, like, take us through the process.
- [37:40]
Angela
Well, and I. I don't remember the last time. Yeah, I don't remember last day. I remember the time. I remember it was before John came into my life. I remember it was like. I remember it was during that time. But this is how I fought. I fought through prayer. I fought through scripture. I fought through fasting and praying, and I just knew that I had a stronghold, and I knew that I had. I had done this for, like, six, seven years before Jesus came into my life and started being like, what is going on? And so when you do something for such a long time, you have to fight to the end to get free from it. And, like, Jesus fights, right? But, like, you ha. You partner with him in fighting. I had to fight. I fought on my knees. I fought in prayer. And for every person that's listening, my whole point in doing this today is because, first of all, all I needed to release this, I needed to get. Because, like, I was still bound with shame. I was so embarrassed. John, a little early on in our relationship, this was so. I don't know why. This is the most embarrassing thing in the world for me, more than anything. I'm so. It's just like. It's. There's gluttony involved. There's. It's. It's bad. Like, it's not good. It's. It's. It's horrible, and it's just, like, devastating. What it does to your body. There are people who die from this type of stuff. And so, first of all, I needed to be released from the shame that, like, my whole testimony. My whole testimony is worth sharing because. Because look what Jesus did. Look what he did. I literally have proof of what he did in my life, and it's so insane. And, like, I just think about the way that I talk to him, and they weren't these incredible prayers. His desire is that we talk to him, that we'd write and be like, God, why is this happening? Do you think this is okay? What do you think about this? Like, it was just so innocent and so.
- [39:47]
Ari
What was the shift for you?
- [39:50]
Angela
There's something so sweet that I wrote about you.
- [39:53]
Ari
Oh, what was the shift for you about how God viewed. Viewed you with this whole thing?
- [40:04]
Angela
I think I'm still working through that. Where. And I've had so much break. It's. I'm telling you, the shame and past episode, all of that opened me up to my whole life, changed. It changed my entire life. We had an episode on perfectionism. My. My perfectionism and thinking that I needed to be perfect and that I, like, had to, like, even. It's not like I ever really upheld an image because I was honest. But, like, the really, really bad struggles were such a weakness for me. Like, it felt like I had such an idol of being strong. And, like, it was so much pride that, like, I could never admit to anybody that I was going through this because Jesus saved my life. How can you go through this if I'm preaching about a Jesus who saved my life? But this is the reality. We're two girls who sit on a podcast who do to walk the talk and live the life that God has called to live. And we struggle every single day of our lives, and we fall every. We fall every day, and we go through things, and Jesus did save our lives. And it's a lifelong process, especially if you're in our position where we didn't have this our whole life. You know what I mean? We just came into this. We just realized what. Who he is and what he does. And so it was through that I always knew Jesus loved me. But you read my journal, and every time I sin, every time I do something, I ask him, please don't take your hand from me.
- [41:32]
Ari
Me.
- [41:32]
Angela
It's not who he is. It's not who he is. He's literally being like, oh, my. It's my desire to love you in this moment. It's my. It's my desire to comfort you in Your sin. It's my desire to literally wrap my arms around you when you've made the biggest mistake of your life.
- [41:50]
Ari
Yeah.
- [41:50]
Angela
You know, and like, me struggling with bulimia didn't make me a bad person. It didn't make me less of a Christian. It didn't make me, like, I just struggled. Like, you know, I was just struggling. And I just. I say this to say, like, you're not alone if you're going through this. I know. Believe me, is like, the one thing that people don't share. It's like, not the one thing. There are a couple of those, but it's one of the things that people don't share. And it's just like, you guys, you fight on your knees, you fight your heart out. Journal to him, talk to him, and under. Do you want to know why I got emotional in my own devotional? I didn't mention the bulimia. I would have never done it at that time. Time Ari asked me a couple months ago, maybe two months ago. She said, I think you should share it. And I was like, I can't do that. Like, I can't do that. And she's like, I think you should share it. I'm encouraging you. Like, there are a lot of people who need to. He. Who need to hear what you have to say about this. And I was like, yeah, maybe in my head I was like, I will never do that. And it literally wasn't until last week I got down in my quiet time and the devotional came into my mind, and I felt God be like, it's time, you know, this is like, another area of shame that I like, I can't live with shame anymore about anything. I don't want to. Like, this is who I am. It's who I've been. It's what I've struggled with. And I'm running towards Jesus, and there. There's a lot has happened along the way, you know, and it's like, so. Yeah, we so proud of you.
- [43:23]
Ari
I see it. Can you. Will you walk me through you? Just your journey now with it all, with eating disorder, with. With it all, the struggles.
- [43:35]
Angela
Yeah. Thank you for asking. I think, like, after I. So, like, right. I beat the bulimia. Jesus beat the bulimia. I just stopped one day. It feels like supernatural deliverance because my mind never went there again again, ever, Ever. It's like, crossed my mind, like, just as a thought, but never a temptation. I've never. I used to feel a gravitational pull towards the bathroom if I felt full Like, I'd feel my body doing something that my mind wasn't even allowing. I've never felt that pull since April of last year, whenever it was. Not one time have I felt that pull. Not one time have I. I came out of agreement with it. That's what it is. It's agreement. Like it's a spiritual agreement that takes place. I was in agreement with bulimia. I was in agreement with alcohol. And then God comes and he breaks it through a year of prayer and fasting. Yeah, I talked to Stephanie at one point. She. Because she's open, she's dealt with stuff like that. And so I talked to her about it. I did talk to a couple of people who I stopped hiding. And I. But it needed to be someone who understood. And so probably right with I. I, maybe in my mind, I felt like you would have. Even though I know you would have understood and I should have told you, and I would have been freer a lot sooner. Please tell somebody. Tell somebody. The biggest mistake I made was trying to do it alone and right. We did it. Jesus did it. It would have. It would have happened a lot sooner had I let someone in, Had I let my best friend in the world, who's the closest person to me, had I let her in, I wouldn't have been able to get away with it. You know, you have eyes on you. That's like half the battle when you have people aware of what's on.
- [45:24]
Ari
Time is our most precious commodity. And so many of you have asked how to use it wisely, to grow, to deepen your understanding and to really learn. And honestly, I get it. I felt the same way. Tired of the endless scroll, the mindless content, the feeling that time is just slipping by. That's why I love what Hillsdale College is doing. Hillsdale offers more than 40 free online courses. Yes, completely free. You can dive into the works of C S Lewis, explore the history of the ancient Christian church, learn the meaning of the US Constitution, or take a deep look at the rise and fall of the Roman Republic. Personally, I'm going through the Genesis story right now, and it has been so incredible. Genesis isn't just a foundational religious text. It is a literary masterpiece that speaks to the deepest parts of the human story. I have learned so much about the relationship between God and man and how the brokenness and the redemption theme plays out in all of of us. So don't waste your time with fluff. Go learn something that will stay with you forever. Go right now to Hillsdale. Edu ggb to enroll. There's no cost and it's easy to get started. That's Hillsdale Edu GGB or just click the link in the show notes.
- [46:38]
Angela
Guys, why is nobody talking about the Endocrine system? If you don't remember from high school biology, your endocrine system is connected to everything your body does. Feeling tired even after eight hours of sleep? That could be your endocrine system breaking out more than usual mood swings out of nowhere Again, endocrine system noticing a little more puffiness or stress showing up on your face? You guessed it. When your endocrine system gets disrupted by stress, chemicals or just daily life, it can throw your whole body out of sync. And until now, there really wasn't anything on the market designed specifically to support this part of your body. But that's why Opositive teamed up with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board certified OB GYN, to create the first ever endocrine por powder made for women. It's called Flow Endocrine Superfood and it's a one scoop a day powder designed to help get your hormones back in balance. It's packed with over 30 science backed ingredients, vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, probiotics and so much more. And it's all blended into a really good strawberry lemonade drink. You just scoop, stir and go. When taken daily, Flow helps support healthy cortisol levels, balanced hormones, better energy, a healthier gut and and yes, clearer skin and a more stable mood which we all love. Take proactive care of your health and head to oppositive.com GGB or enter GGB at checkout for 25% off your first purchase. That's O P O S I T-I V.com GGB for 25% off.
- [48:14]
Ari
You already know this show is about finding beauty in the wilderness. But let's talk about beauty and on your fingertips. We've been loving Olive and June's Mani system. It's everything you need for salon perfect nails at home. We're talking tools that actually work, polishes that don't chip, and a plump gel like finish without the lamp. It lasts up to 10 days and it breaks down to just $2amani. You know what I'm obsessed with right now that I haven't yet tried because I am such a nude and just white polish girl. The sparkly top coats, they're really giving festive and fun and I might try it. And if you're more of a press on girl, Olive and June's got you. There's a non damaging super cute and take less than 10 minutes. Honestly, they look better than gel and they're only $10 a set. We love that Olive and June makes it easy to show up polish without the pressure of appointments or salon prices. Visit olivenjun.com ggb for 20% off your first system. That's O L I V E a n d J-U-N-E.com GGB you guys, I cannot even begin to count how much I have spent on skincare and hair products over the years. Acne treatments, deep conditioners, products of rashes, color safe shampoos, all of it. But the crazy part. I was totally overlooking one of the most foundational parts of my beauty regular routines. The water I shower in. We all know how important it is to filter our drinking water, so why aren't we thinking the same way about the water we put on our bodies every single day? That's where Jolie comes in. Jolie is a beauty wellness company that purifies your shower water. And honestly, the difference is real. My hair feels softer, my skin isn't as reactive, and I've noticed a serious difference in how my skin retains moisture. It's like giving your body a break from the harsh stuff hiding in your trap water. Their filtered shower head is clinically proven and lab tested. It removes chlorine and heavy metals and has been shown to reduce hair shedding in 81% of people. Cut down frizzy by 40%. It helps maintain hair color, protects the hair surface layer and the design. Minimal, sleek and still gives great water pressure. It fits any standard shower, so no need for plumbing drama. If you're trying to get your glow back from the inside out, this is your first step. Jolie will give you your best skin and hair guaranteed. Head to jolieskinco.com ggb to try it out for your with free shipping. And if you don't like it, you can return your Jolie for a full refund within 60 days, no questions asked.
- [50:47]
Angela
My mind body connection has gone a lot better. Now it's just like now it's just control. So I am going to see like a eating disorder specialist because now I've just realized there's a lot of shame attached to food. Now I stay away from it completely because of what I've been through.
- [51:08]
Ari
As you stay away from food like.
- [51:10]
Angela
I stay away from, you know, my control. I stay away from bad food. I stay away from. I have safe foods. Like I have all those things that I've talked about in the past. Now it's Time for, like, Jesus is healing me.
- [51:22]
Ari
Yeah.
- [51:22]
Angela
And he's going to heal me through deep inner work, through counseling. I talked to a specialist, and she was like, I explained to her everything. And she believes that there are, like, key moments in childhood where, where that, like, everything is wrapped up in that. Like, if we could pinpoint those moments, talk through them, invite Jesus in, that they would, like, unravel like a knot being untied. Wow. Because that's where everything begins. So I say all this to say I let you into my journaling of the way I fought with Jesus, begged him, and I encourage you guys to fight with Jesus. Whatever you're battling, whether it's bulimia or whatever. I would. I'm not saying I did it perfectly by any means, but just like the real raw desperation of begging Jesus to help you, coming out of agreement, saying, I've fallen once again, but I'm coming directly to you and understanding that just because you don't get free right away does not mean you won't ever be free. I literally wrote Jesus, could it be that somebody actually does recover from this? I never saw a world. And, and even right now, I say to him, jesus, is there a world in which I don't have control over food? I don't see that yet. But I'm believing for it because I have history with him, you know, and.
- [52:40]
Ari
Not sitting in the shame.
- [52:41]
Angela
That's, that's, that's the worst.
- [52:44]
Ari
Can you just talk about that for a minute? How, how, how shame. How, how being open about shame has freed your heart.
- [52:51]
Angela
Yeah. Yeah. What happened with that past and shame episode? Like, all of that stuff that happened. The darkest, probably worst time of my entire life. I can't even begin to explain what that was like. Was the best thing that's ever happened to me. How, how, how can it be that Genesis 50:20 really is as true as it is that whatever the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good? It opened me up to a world that he, I, I, I went so long saying, I don't have shame. I have shame about everything. I have a shame. I have shame in every area. That's the root of all of my issues. Everything is, is everything literally comes down to shame. And this was something that was finally, like, it was just time. It was just time to be like, I'm. First of all, everybody goes through things. Everybody's dealing with something that's as embarrassing for me as bulimia was. You know what I mean? And, yeah, it was just so sitting in the shame coming to Jesus every single time and saying, I'm not going to resort to hiding and shame. I'm coming directly to you. And just fighting and praying and begging him and. And. And. But believing in faith like, you're already doing it. Pray like this. You're already doing it. I'm already free. And it's not a bad thing if you go back. It doesn't mean that all the progress is gone. It doesn't mean that you weren't healed to begin with. It just is. The next natural flow of the Christian walk is that we all fall short of the glory of God, but he is good and he's faithful and. Yeah.
- [54:34]
Ari
And I'll just say it one more time. One of the most courageous things you did in this walk was say, you know what? I'm not keeping this in the dark anymore. And you started to tell people you could trust. And then through that, you know what happened? The person that she opened up to said, you know what's crazy? I dealt with that, too. And how less alone did you feel? You felt like you could probably breathe. Like, wow, this person that I look up to actually battles with this too.
- [55:04]
Angela
It's so crazy.
- [55:05]
Ari
You had no idea of this, right?
- [55:07]
Angela
Yeah.
- [55:08]
Ari
Yeah, it's crazy.
- [55:10]
Angela
Thanks for listening.
- [55:13]
Ari
This was so beautiful. I was. I've been patiently waiting for you to be like, I'm ready.
- [55:20]
Angela
She's been really patient. Ari's been a writer and being like, ang, it's okay whenever the time is right, but I think you should do it. You've been such a good encourager of just. But you. Right. You do this so well. You're just like, here I am. Here I am. Like, it's. I've learned so much from you in this area. So much. You've taught me so much about being open and about. About being honest and about being like, it doesn't make you less of a person that you struggle.
- [55:50]
Ari
Yeah.
- [55:51]
Angela
It doesn't make you less of a woman of God that you struggle. You don't have to be perfect. Like, you don't have to. You've taught me so much.
- [55:58]
Ari
Thank you. You taught me so much through this episode. You know, you taught me so much reading your journal. It sounded a lot like me because I often times feel like I'm. I'm just like. Like, I felt like I was reading my own words. I'm sure so many of you guys do, too, but just having you be like, are you mad at me? Like, are you gonna take your hand off me? Like, how many times do we do that, yeah. When we're just like not.
- [56:27]
Angela
I don't know, when you're just struggling.
- [56:29]
Ari
When you're struggling, you just feel like, God, I'm gonna be condemned for this one.
- [56:33]
Angela
Yeah.
- [56:33]
Ari
And I just read in that the whole time I was just like, he loves you so much. So it just kind of like helped me in that moment because be like he loves me so much. Like we do thing, you know.
- [56:44]
Angela
Yeah. Well, because he's like, he hates sin and he doesn't tolerate sin, but he has more compassion than anything. Like he has more compassion in his heart for us than he has hatred for sin. Like he understands why we go through the things we go through. That's not an allowance to keep doing it. But he wasn't ever allowing me to keep doing what I was doing. But he was in it. He was right there. He was, he. He knows. Even if I don't know where it came, even if I don't know who said something to me when I was younger, who shamed me about food, who even comforted me with food. That's another thing about like binge eating, bulimia, eating disorders. Is that like even comforting children with food? It's just like food is like a beautiful necessity, basic need of life. And there actually shouldn't be like negative emotion ever attached to it. You know what I mean? To comfort a child. I just feel like probably someone said something about my body, about how much I was eating.
- [57:46]
Ari
Yeah.
- [57:47]
Angela
There's just so many things and it's.
- [57:48]
Ari
It'S, it's a sickness.
- [57:50]
Angela
It is a sickness and an addiction.
- [57:53]
Ari
It's a sickness. It's like you weren't doing anything bad. You were literally. It was a sickness.
- [57:58]
Angela
Yeah.
- [57:59]
Ari
I wanted to say one more thing. Can I ask you one more thing? I don't know if this is too personal, but I'm, I'm interested in this. Yeah. What do you think about, about struggling with food addiction and fasting?
- [58:16]
Angela
Yeah. Really good question. I've had, I've thought about this a lot. I think you have to be really mature in your faith and mature emotionally and very aware. Because I would be lying if I said there weren't. Haven't been times in my life that I spent the weekend eating a good amount and then saying, I'm going to go on a fast for Jesus. Or getting on a scale after a two day fast that was meant to be just spiritual. I'm very aware of. And that's like, that's like spiritual manipulation and it's like almost spiritual abuse in a Sense, because I. I take that really seriously. And I'm not saying that I haven't gotten it wrong. Of course I have. And God convicts me, my heart very, very, very heavily. Because it's just like, I have, like, fear of God in me where I'm just like. That scares me to say I'm doing something for God, but I'm actually doing it because I want to get thin. So just like, being aware and like, having so much reverence and so much fear and like, being really honest with yourself. So Lisa Bevere, she. She struggled with bulimia as well. Well, and she has a quote where she's like, God told me the difference between dieting and fasting. Dieting changes the way you look. Fasting changes the way you see. And so for my situation, I think someone who deals with. I'm. I'm careful because I don't. I haven't studied this in depth. And so. Right. I'm going based off what I believe. Leave. I. I think I know. But I feel like when you are starving yourself and when you're anorexic, I imagine fasting is not helpful. I imagine it's not wise. I think in my position, because I was dealing with, like, a gluttonous spirit, because I would often times overeat. I. I needed to starve my flesh. I needed to be full of Jesus. I needed to be fed by Jesus so that the gluttony would go, so that I wouldn't. Because there was so much, like, noise around food in my head that I needed to starve. I needed it to starve so my flesh would starve, so Jesus would have priority in my mind. Do you know what I mean?
- [60:48]
Ari
After that day you fasted, Was that done?
- [60:51]
Angela
So I fasted a lot over a year. Like, I fasted once a week, actually, with the intention of not overeating, not binging and specific and not purging.
- [61:01]
Ari
Okay.
- [61:02]
Angela
So that's why. But yeah, you need wisdom. You need to be careful. I even. Yeah, it's. I want everybody to use wisdom. And I want you to be plugged into a local church where you have a pastor and somebody to talk to who knows you, who knows how you work, who knows your. Because I've made a lot of mistakes in my journey. I've. I've done things that I look back and I'm like, that wasn't the wisest thing to do. So. And we're all different. And what works for me might not work for you. This just my journey. This is what happened for Me is that I. I needed something. Need. It needed to starve out of me. The fleshy obsession around food. Yeah. And I would just suggest to anybody. What was your other question?
- [61:43]
Ari
I was just going to ask you what tools you use. Can you give us some tools on. I don't know, for instance, if you go to dinner and like, you're. The obsessive compulsive starts and you're beating yourself up because the shame hits because that's what the. You know, it's just this journey. Can you give us some tools on what. How you overcome that, how you deal with that?
- [62:08]
Angela
Yeah.
- [62:08]
Ari
What can somebody do in this?
- [62:10]
Angela
I know. Yeah. It's such a. It's such an emotional and spiritual thing. I think the best thing to do what I do. And there's no right answer that, like, miraculously takes away these. I mean, yes, Jesus, miraculate can. Anyways. It's not like. Like a perfect remedy that causes you to not go through that. Like, I still go through that. Like, sometimes. I'm really fine. I'm like, actually surprised at my own breakthrough. Like, this weekend, I. Good. And I really. I had moments, but I was like, not. It's like, it's intimacy with Jesus. Like, it's literally like you find it in the secret place before you ever go out to dinner. You get fed, you get filled. Jesus renews your mind are thought patterns that need to break and change. You read the word, all the things that we already tell you guys to do. You start with that first. You spend time with Jesus. And like, every time I eat, for the most part, like, saying grace for me isn't just like praying a prayer. It's like an conscious thing of like, hey, you and I are about to have a meal together, and I need you to bless this food in my body. And I need to have like, a right perspective on this meal. I always pray before meals. I always pray before eating something. And then if I either ate too much or my mind is tricking me thinking I ate too much, when really I just had a little piece of chicken, I just pray. I invite Jesus in. And sometimes I forget to pray. And sometimes I don't want to bother him with that prayer. And it makes me so mad. Over the weekend, I had a moment that was hard. I went into the bathroom and I had a moment where I was like, hey, I'm just. I'm overthinking. I'm not feeling that good about it. I'm not feeling that good in my body right now. We just speak. I Need truth, speak truth. And that's what I consistently ask Jesus to do, specifically, to speak truth. Because the enemy is lying. He's lying. Your body's lying, your eyes are lying. And you need God, the truth of God. And so. And he speaks. He does. He'll change your thoughts. And it is a journey that you go on. And you just keep inviting him. Like we read in this journal, you continue to invite him. And the temptation is not to encourage. Include him. For some reason, you do something wrong, you're not feeling good. Why is it that we don't include the one person who can fix the problem? I don't know. So. And I also talk to people now.
- [64:32]
Ari
You do. I was gonna say that. I think that's what's so great. And that's why you're healing as fast as you are. There's been many times where you've been like, our. Can you talk to me for a second? It's always like. It's literally she sounds. It's like looking at myself sometimes. But you know. And you just find people that you trust that love you, that's not gonna judge you, that can be like, let's talk this through. Yeah, okay, so listen to what we ate. Like, let's go through this.
- [65:01]
Angela
She does it so well for me.
- [65:03]
Ari
Let's talk about the facts. I always talk about the facts. Then she pulls down her pants. We're gonna take that out.
- [65:14]
Angela
And then I go, so you do think I look good.
- [65:19]
Ari
We fall down.
- [65:20]
Angela
Her feet on her pants.
- [65:21]
Ari
It's so crazy, but I put you.
- [65:24]
Angela
Through so much in this area. I put you through so much. I love it.
- [65:27]
Ari
No, but you.
- [65:28]
Angela
You're.
- [65:29]
Ari
You've been so open. We just talk things through, and it's.
- [65:33]
Angela
Hey, can you talk to me really quick?
- [65:34]
Ari
Talk to me for a second.
- [65:35]
Angela
So I ate this, and this is what I'm thinking. What do you think about that?
- [65:39]
Ari
Well, it has 310 calories, but if you break down the sugar.
- [65:42]
Angela
But then Ari doesn't know if I'm being serious or not.
- [65:44]
Ari
I don't.
- [65:45]
Angela
So she'll, like, look at me a couple times, you're like, oh, okay. We're being serious. Okay, I'll help you.
- [65:49]
Ari
Well, I have to be honest with you. I. Like, this is. This is something I have to be so honest about. There's some times where I am, like, I don't want to say I wish I had eating disorder. I don't. But when I tell you that going through such turmoil and, like, things like eating disorder or anxiety or obsessive compulsive thinking or heartbreak or grief is so good because you can relate to others.
- [66:15]
Angela
Yeah.
- [66:16]
Ari
There's two things I can't relate too. That it's like. It's. It's foreign to me. It's this, and it's kids with people. Like, people that talk to me about, like, problems with their children. Like, I. Because I don't have children yet.
- [66:30]
Angela
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [66:31]
Ari
But why would you guys go?
- [66:33]
Angela
I have no idea.
- [66:35]
Ari
Like, being a mother. But.
- [66:38]
Angela
I know there's a major disconnect.
- [66:41]
Ari
So at first, when we were going through this, like, she thought I was cute. I used to laugh. I used to be like, angela, you're fine.
- [66:50]
Angela
It's.
- [66:51]
Ari
Cause I didn't know how. I didn't know how serious it was. I really have struggled with understanding eating disorder, you know, but it's been beautiful to walk through this with you. It really has. I'm so. Yeah. I just think it's been so hard for you, this journey of 10 years. But the way you can look at people and say, me too. You're not alone. I. I already know as this whole episode how many people you're freeing, because people have lost their lives to this, and they've. They've battled this. They. They don't even come out of their rooms. I have a family member who. She's 80, and she's still battling, so.
- [67:30]
Angela
Oh, my gosh.
- [67:31]
Ari
Wow. Wow. Thank you for this. Because, man, have you freed so much, so many people to today.
- [67:39]
Angela
You're amazing. You really are. No, seriously.
- [67:43]
Ari
Yeah.
- [67:44]
Angela
Thank you. Jesus. Well, yeah. This is. This is life. This is life.
- [67:51]
Ari
Yeah, it is.
- [67:52]
Angela
We all go through a lot, and everybody's battling something, and you probably don't even know what they're battling. Even the closest people to you could be battling something that they're too scared to tell you. So I would even encourage people to start going around and telling even more of your daily, deepest, darkest things that you struggle with, because somebody will be like, oh, my gosh, now I can finally tell the one thing that I'm struggling with.
- [68:16]
Ari
You know, I think that's been one of the most beautiful things about tour.
- [68:21]
Angela
Yeah.
- [68:22]
Ari
Is we're looking at these. There's people that come up to us and the stories they tell us, and we're just like. You've just really understood the silent battles people are going through. We're all battling with someone. That's why it's so important you're battling someone. Did I say something? Yeah, that too. But you're always Battling something. So you just, just really, it really just knocks something in you to be like, every time I want to have an attitude or flip someone off on the road, maybe I should look at them and be like, maybe they're going through something really heavy.
- [68:57]
Angela
Yeah. So what are you going through? I'm just kidding. Thank you for that.
- [69:02]
Ari
Of you guys.
- [69:05]
Angela
We love you.
- [69:05]
Ari
My nail, my nail. I I r. My nail off in the middle of her telling the story.
- [69:09]
Angela
Is that your real nail?
- [69:11]
Ari
Yeah.
- [69:13]
Angela
You're so lucky. Will you give him the blessing?
- [69:16]
Ari
Sure. It's your thing.
- [69:18]
Angela
No.
- [69:24]
Ari
We love you guys so much.
- [69:25]
Angela
We love you guys so much.
- [69:28]
Ari
We hope that today with Ang being as open and vulnerable as she was today, that it would give you the courage to be open and vulnerable and open up and share your story. Cuz you will be a seed of faith like Angela today to someone to make them feel less alone, to help them be like, you know what? I'm going to beat this too. You went through this and now I'm going to go through this, but I'm going to beat it too. So I just hope that you guys will go out there. I just. So many girls that. Not even girls, just people at our tour, we just look out and we just see equipped. Like, you guys are so equipped for this. Like you, you might not be on a podcast, but you are equipped. You're equipped to tell your pain, your story and to help others because that's what Jesus called you to do. We tell us, we tell our testimonies to help the lives of others. And that's what life is all about. It starts there to help his people. So thank you, Angela. We love you so much. Thank you, Angie. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you and may he give you peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding, to know that whatever you're going through, he is going to heal you and redeem you. And it will be your greatest testimony and the thing you will have victory over.
- [70:48]
Angela
Thank you, Jesus. I receive that.
- [70:50]
Ari
Do you want to pray for people with eating disorders real quick?
- [70:55]
Angela
Yeah. Should we?
- [70:57]
Ari
I don't know why I feel like you should.
- [70:59]
Angela
Actually, you know what? I'll even read this prayer that I wrote in the devotional and we can all read it together. Just read this with us. Dear Jesus, I come before you with a mind clouded by the battle I face with my relationship with food and my body. Lord, I acknowledge my weakness and my need for your strength and healing. I ask for your divine intervention and the power of your love to set me free from this eating disorder and the unhealthy thoughts that plague me. Jesus, you are the healer of all wounds seen and unto unseen. I ask you to heal the deep rooted pain and insecurities that fuel this disorder. Replace my distorted perceptions with your truth and help me to see myself as you see me, fearfully and wonderfully made. Give me the grace to treat my body with respect and care to nourish it in a way that honors you. Grant me the wisdom to seek and accept the help I need, whether through counseling, support groups, or the loving encouragement of friends and family. Family, surround me with people who will uplift me and remind me of your love and promises. In your holy and precious name I pray. Amen.
- [72:22]
Ari
Beautiful.
- [72:22]
Angela
We love you guys. Guys, thank you for just letting me have this really beautiful safe space to do this. Thank you for being the greatest family. I can't even imagine a world that I would come on here and do this. And it's literally because of you guys. It's literally because you guys give us this space and you allow us to come and have these conversations. And I just love you so much and I want to see you free and I want you to know that there is actually hope if you're someone thinking, does anyone ever actually get free from this? You have somebody sitting right in front of you who never could have imagined being free from the claws of hell. Like literally. I'm not even over spiritualizing it. It is the most demonic thing and I was set free. And I want you to get a journal and I want you to write your thoughts out. Sometimes when you speak out loud, I'm realizing journaling is really, really important. Journal your heart out. Speak to God directly. It doesn't need to be beautiful. It doesn't need to sound like anything special. You say, why God? How God? What's going on? God? That's what he desires from you. So we love you. Thank you guys.