Success and Failure Blog

Comfort Foods – What’s Your Comfort Food?

At a recent pot-luck, my friend looked at the rice pudding I had brought and exclaimed, “O boy, comfort food.”  For her, rice pudding was more than something pleasing to her tongue.  It seemed to stir up all sorts of wonderful and delicious memories. Perhaps it even touched a very special spot in her heart.

Comfort food is different for each individual.  For many it is chocolate that brings comfort – chocolate in just about any form. Some people even think of mashed potatoes and gravy as comfort food.  For my husband, comfort food is apple pie, especially apple pie a la mode.

Think for a moment about your comfort food.  What was happening in your life when that particular food brought comfort to you?  Were things going well or not so well for you?  Can you relate it to a particular person or event?

No matter what our comfort food may be, eating it always seems to make us feel a bit better and gives us a little brighter outlook on whatever situation we may be facing.  Although it is probably high in carbohydrates, it somehow touches whatever that spot is that needs to be touched at the moment.

Thinking about my friend’s response to rice pudding reminded me of my favorite comfort food.  Perhaps it’s your favorite too.  It’s my “spiritual comfort food,” and it’s found in the Bible.  It is the “go to” comfort food I rely upon.  I can eat all I want and never gain a pound, never get a cavity, and never feel guilty if I over eat.  It is delicious to my soul and readily available day or night.  No matter what I’m experiencing it is always there to bring just the exact comfort I need at that particular moment – and I don’t even have to go to the kitchen and prepare it.

For example, when I was a single mom raising three young children on my own, my comfort food was found in Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”  And when I was having trouble collecting all my credits from various college locations to apply toward a degree, my comfort was Isaiah 45:2 (NIV).  “I will go before you and will level the mountains.  I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” And many times I have found comfort in these verses: Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Proverbs 15: 29 (NIV) says, “The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous.”  And Psalm139 comforts me continually for it says God knew me before I was born and he will never forsake me no matter where I go.  How comforting those verses have been in my life.

Let’s face it. Chocolate may be comfort food for the body, but for the soul, you can’t beat The Bible.  It is delicious to your heart and satisfies your soul.  For as it says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” (Psalm 119:103 NIV)  So go ahead.  Indulge – in God’s comfort food.