In the midst of hunger, Esau made a dire decision that would affect his future. (Genesis 25:29-34)

In the midst of hunger, the Israelites doubted God and complained against him. (Exodus 16:3-8)

In the midst of hunger, how do you act?

Most would answer and say they get angry or moody, hence the term hangry. 

Why is physical hunger a defining moment and yet and opportunity to choose? 

According to Google, when you’re hungry your body is experiencing a roller coaster of things. Hunger can prevent the body from relaxing and releases hormones that can cause irritability, hunger can cause fatigue which can affect your concentration, hunger can be an anxiety trigger and induce your fight or flight response, being hungry can cause persistent thoughts about food, lower your blood sugar and the list goes on and on. 

The point I’m trying to make is that when hungry, the body is in a state of affliction and struggle. 

So we could ask ourselves, what do we do when we are hungry? Get short tempered with those around us? Make quick, unthoughtful decisions like Esau? Or maybe we come against God with complaints? 

However, the better question to ask is what do we do when we are in a state of struggle (hunger)? We miss the value of the struggle, the value of the affliction because it’s an opportunity to produce Godly fruit with Godly decisions making. With pause and a moment with God in the midst of the struggle we can change our trajectory. 

I should have started off by telling you this is me teaching myself because I am quick to let a little bit of hunger change my mood. I get silent and upset. This is also me telling you publicly I need change because no food item will have that much control over me! Amen. 

The bible says that in our affliction we can take comfort in God’s faithfulness to deliver us (Psalm 34:19). Afflictions have purpose (Psalm 119:71) and make the word of God more effective in our lives (Psalm 119:67). 

So, what will you do the next time you are hungry (in a struggle)? Will you complain? Be short tempered? Make a heated decision? Be filled with doubt? Or will you take a pause and remember God? 

I hope it’s the latter, friends. 

See you next week!