The Bread Of Life

You can’t pick up a magazine, browse cookbooks, or even skim social media posts these days without coming across an article or discussion about the “best” kind of bread. For a while, whole-grain bread was the nutritional favorite, but now bread made with sprouted grains seems to be gaining an edge. If you have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance or are following a “paleo” diet, you may be trying different gluten-free and/or grain-free breads. If you are on a low-calorie or low-carb diet, you may be eschewing bread altogether and subsisting on rice cakes.

Since I do my weekly grocery shopping on Sundays, these thoughts were floating around in the back of my head when I read the Gospel story where Jesus proclaims that He is the Bread of Life.  

From John 6: 27-35:

[Jesus said,] “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” ….

[They said], “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

When I was pondering the #FFInspired prompt for March (Does God Care What I Eat?), I came to the conclusion that God probably doesn’t much care what kind of bread we eat, as long as it is not harmful to us or others. But, Jesus reminds us here that it is not food but God that sustains us. Hutch touched on this topic in her Faith & Fitness Inspired post, where she wrote:

God wants us to depend on Him and nothing else. Turning to food for comfort or eating your emotions may help for a moment, but it wont solve your problem. Only God can give you rest from your trouble.

Since I struggle with stress eating, I know this all too well. I have learned that overeating is not always about the food, and that if I’m not physically hungry, food won’t really make me feel better. Learning to turn to God instead of food when I am tired, stressed, worried, or angry is an ongoing process, but God never disappoints.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.
~ Psalm 55:22

Even if God doesn’t care what kind of bread we eat, God does want us to partake of the Bread of Life. It is only that Bread that can nourish our souls and sustain us for the journey ahead.

What is your favorite type of bread?