By Shawn Smith
About 9%, or 30 million, of Americans will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime, including actress Jen Lilley.
Lilley was one of the millions who battled with bulimia nervosa but, through her walk with God, was able to overcome it.
“I really wanted to be healed, but it’s an addiction, and it’s like, you can’t just stop vomiting,” Lilley shared about her 15-year battle with the eating disorder.
“I was going to food for emotional comfort instead of Jesus, I was…feeding off of, literally…the dopamine effect,” she added.
Related: How This Actress’ Faith Keeps Her Resilient When Her Career Disappoints
The Virginia native said that she would seek counsel from other believers and would always get a “message of grace” that God forgives, but she began to realize that there was God’s call to obedience as well as grace.
It was scripture and a pastor’s definition of sin that helped her to overcome bulimia — that, along with other eating disorders is the second leading cause of death of all mental illnesses.
“[M]y pastor said…‘The best definition for sin that I can come up with is trusting in anything more than you trust in God,’” recalled the 41-year-old.
“[E]very time I’ve asked Christians if this is okay, I’ve gotten the message of grace. ‘Like well, Jesus died for that, like He forgives you for that.’” Lilley said.
She went on to say, “Yeah, but he also doesn’t tolerate idols, and that’s like, my image and my staying fit is control. The opposite of obedience is not disobedience. The opposite of obedience is control, comfort and convenience. And I was trusting that by being bulimic, I could keep myself thin.”
The PARIS CHRISTMAS WALTZ star admitted that while she believes in healing for others, she sometimes struggles with believing in healing for herself.
“I trust God can heal. I pray for people, they get healed. But I don’t trust that he’ll heal me. Why?” she said. “Because I don’t deserve it? I bought into this lie that I don’t deserve his love. I know better, so like He shouldn’t heal me? It’s just so silly.”
“I’m so glad to be on the other side of it finally. I mean, I’m 6, 7 years free now, and I’m like, this is the best,” Lilley went on to say.
Another Christian actress Candace Cameron Bure shared about her struggles with bulimia that started when she was 18.
While she no longer acts on the bulimic impulses to binge or purge, she still considers herself a bulimic.
“The thoughts — whether I’m doing that or not — they never leave me. So, I still need the tools to just say, ‘No, Candace, we’re not doing that,’” she opened up on her podcast.
We pray that stars’ openness about their struggles with eating disorders will help others speak out about the illness and seek biblical guidance to overcome it.
Read Next: ‘I’m a Bulimic’: FULL HOUSE Star Opens Up About Her ‘Body Story’
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