Step 7: Letting Go of Shame and Asking God to Change Us

Have you ever overeaten and then immediately started beating yourself up?

“I did it again.”

“Why can’t I get this right?”

“I’m such a failure.”

But shame doesn’t lead us toward freedom.

Step Seven is about humbly asking God to remove our shortcomings—and those shortcomings extend far beyond our struggles with food. They can show up in our relationships, our attitudes, our reactions, and the way we treat others.

One of the things I wrote about in Step Seven of 12 Steps to Recovery From Overeating is this:

“When we make a mistake, we can acknowledge it without thoughts of being a mistake.”

There is a big difference between saying, “I made a poor choice” and “There is something wrong with me.”

Romans 8:1 reminds us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Step Seven isn't about approaching God weighed down by shame. We come to Him knowing that we are already loved and forgiven. We can honestly acknowledge the things that need to change and ask God to help us become more like Christ.

Maybe you overate. Maybe you lost your patience with someone. Maybe you were selfish, unkind, prideful, or reacted in a way you wish you hadn't.

Acknowledge it. Bring it to God. Ask for His forgiveness and His help in changing it.

But don't turn what you did into who you are.

You are a loved child of God—and He is still at work in you. ❤️