Day 2 and 3 were the hardest physically. While I was tired and cranky on day 1, I still felt kind of full from the previous day’s feast, but during days 2 and 3 I was just plain HUNGRY. I would have my shake around 8am, but be hungry by 10. I’d have my smoothie at noon, but feel hungry by 2pm. This just wasn’t going to work. On the afternoon of day 3 I told the Lord I was so hungry I felt like I was going to die. So I started praying about whether He’d maybe let me add a “snack” in around 3 or 4pm. Just like carrots. Anything. I didn’t need steak, just something to chew. Oh friends how I wanted a CARROT! Just a carrot! I prayed for a snack, hopeful that He’d hear my plea and respond with His ever lovingkindness.
He said no.
*sigh*
Ok, then, we were going to have to figure this out. And of course, we did. I learned in the days that followed that I could wait on having breakfast until 9 or 10am. It was easier to be hungry from 7-10am then it was from 2-5pm. I learned that if I waited to have my afternoon smoothie until 2pm or so, I could stretch to dinner a lot easier. Again, it was easier to be hungry earlier in the day than later.
But most of what helped was this simple assurance. When I was pouring out my complaint to the Lord, and telling Him I felt so hungry I was going to die, I heard so clearly:
“Your body isn’t going to die, your will is.”
Yes. Of course. Of course this was the truth. My body would be fine. People live on much much less than this, every single day, all around the world. I was far from starving. I even checked my weight to be sure, and interestingly enough, I wasn’t even losing weight, so clearly I was fine.
I felt really hungry, but–hello!–that was a very natural consequence of fasting. Did I expect fasting wouldn’t include hunger?
It was just that I’d never before felt this hungry. This was a whole different type than I’d felt before.
And it was good. I needed this. I needed to hear, “No.” I needed to learn to “make ends meet” with food, the same way people have to do when they don’t have enough money. I needed to learn to stretch out my meals and maybe rest a little more and pray a little more and make due with less. All of these lessons were good. I needed them.
And, thankfully, I even found that after the first three days, I actually felt great. No headaches. No stomachaches. No digestive issues. I slept great. My skin started looking clearer. Whoa! This was a surprise, you mean this fasting thing we were doing was actually good for my body too?!!
You mean God actually wanted to bless me when He called me to go without?!
You mean God loves me so much He wanted me to abstain from things in order to help me feel better?!
You mean when the flesh dies our spirit comes to life?!
You mean I’m going to enjoy this whole crazy ordeal?!
Wonders never cease.