Faith Over Fear: What Jesus Taught Me in the Kitchen

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 02:25:27 GMT

Faith and Food Friday

�� Table Talk with a Twist

People often say grace at the table and thank God for their food. These days, I find myself negotiating with Him like a southern mom bargaining with a toddler. ‘Lord, please let this broth stay down—and maybe don’t let it send me running to the bathroom again?’

Life without a colon has forced the rest of my digestive system to go freelance. My relationship with food? Let’s just say... it’s not Facebook official anymore…it’s complicated! (Isn’t that one relationship status option) Gone are the days of three square meals. Now, I move between sacred gratitude and food-induced trauma—sometimes all in one sitting.

This week, I’m focusing on mindful eating, enjoying good company, and shifting my thoughts from what’s on my plate to Who’s with me at the table. Because food may have betrayed me, but Jesus never does.

�� Food, Faith, and Frustration

Let me be real: I had moments this week when I gave food the death glare—like it was that one coworker who never refills the coffee pot. (Really…why…why do you do that?)

I forced myself to eat despite pain, nausea, and the betrayal of my taste buds. They say, ‘food is medicine.’ I say, ‘medicine tastes better when it’s ice cream’—but alas, here we are.

Matthew 6:31 now reads like it was written just for me:
“Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’...”

He knows. Even when my meals are liquid, lukewarm, or less than Instagram-worthy, He is still Provider.

�� Jesus Knew the Power of a Meal

It’s no accident that Jesus did some of His best ministry over meals. Bread, fish, wine—He knew how to host.

These days, my menu is less ‘miracle feast’ and more ‘heaven, help me with this protein shake,’ but I’m learning.

I’ve stopped obsessing over what’s on the plate and started focusing on the grace around it. Even when my plate is a paper cup and a plastic spoon, there’s still fellowship. And even on broth days, I’m fed by faith.

�� What I’m Learning at the Table

Here’s what the Lord is showing me between sips of soup and stolen bites of rice and chicken:

- Gratitude isn’t about what’s on your plate—it’s about who’s at your table.
- Control is an illusion. (Like portion control when the chips come out.)
- Even gut-friendly food can be a gift. Yes, even that weird jello.

And now, my go-to prayer before meals:
“Lord, bless this food, settle my stomach, and please… let this not end in regret.”

�� Gut-Friendly Food of the Week: Electrolytes

This week’s MVP: electrolyte water.

Yes, I’m hyping water with extra stuff in it. Because hydration is my superpower now. And if adding a pinch of sea salt and a splash of lemon juice makes me feel like a wellness influencer, I’ll take it.

It’s not glamorous—but it’s keeping me on my feet. (And off the floor from fainting, which is the real win.)

�� Come to the Table Anyway

So… bring your bone broth, your hydration drink, or that one safe food you eat on repeat.

You don’t have to be ‘better’ to come to the table. You just have to come.

And if your place setting looks more like a hospital tray than a Pinterest board—guess what? Jesus is still sitting beside you.

Friend, Pull up a chair. There’s grace waiting.

Let’s Talk:

What food are you learning to trust again?
What Scripture nourishes your soul when food won’t?

Welcome to SassyAndGutless: A Gut-Honest Space for Healing, Humor, and Hope

site-CLUQow — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:13:27 GMT

Hi, ya'll!

Hey, ya'll!

I'm Betsy - a wife, mom, therapist, PhD candidate, Jesus-lover, and a post-menopasual delight. In May 2025, we can add one more important label...a women without a colon.

Yep! You can get the whole thing removed (total colectomy)! Last year's partial removal (resection) just didn't cut it. So, this year, we went back for what my doctor affectionately called to as "the final chapter." You can't even make this up!

After decades of colon issues, which we will get into in so much detail, I was diagnosed with colonic inertia. My large intestine just pooped out.

What this Blog is About

This is space for us to tell the messy, miraculous, mildly mortifying truth about living with chronic illness, mental health struggles, and all that life throws our way!

As a licensed therapist and a recovering perfectionist, I’m here to talk about:

�� Digestive drama (unfiltered, obviously)

�� Mental health and counseling tools that actually help*

�� Finding identity and purpose after your body says “Peace Out”

�� Faith that stretches, aches, and grows

�� Humor as medicine—and sometimes survival

Who This Blog Is For
This space is for:

Anyone navigating medical trauma or invisible illness
Therapists who are also human
Moms, wives, professionals, and Jesus girls trying to hold it all together (but sometimes let it fall apart)
Everyone who’s ever felt broken, lost, or—let’s be honest—like they’re full of crap when they’re actually… not

If you've ever been thought "if one more person tells me to take fiber and Miralax", welcome! If you have ever cried yourself to sleep because you had an impossible medical decision to make, welcome! If you want to be inspired, educated, and have loads of fun along the way...you belong here!

Let's get gut-honest! Do you have the guts?

With load of love and just enough sass,

Betsy

aka Sassy & Gutless

*Listen, I know that I will share and provide helpful information. However, I am not a prescribing physician and not your professional therapist. Please seek medical advice for your personal situation!! This website and the contents contained in the website are a reflection of my journey, thoughts, beliefs, etc. Feel free to share with your doctor and set a personalized plan for your healing and wellbeing!