Sydney was in ministry. She was serving God, leading others, preaching His love and promises. But behind closed doors, she felt miles away from Him.
She knew God's word. She could quote the promises. She believed they were true... for everyone else. But for her, they felt so far off. Like words on a page that didn't quite land in her heart.
And on top of that, she was going through a breakup, questioning her job, unsure of her next steps, and secretly struggling with food in a way she'd never fully acknowledged before. She found comfort in food. She thought that was normal. But she didn't realize how much that comfort was masking a deeper disconnection from herself and from God.
Sydney was stuck in a cycle of comparison, shame, and pressure. She put so much pressure on herself to have her walk with God look a certain way, to feel a certain way about Him. And when she didn't, the shame would creep in. She couldn't separate her circumstances from her view of God. And she couldn't separate the drama in her head from the truth.
Everything felt true. The lies felt like facts. And she didn't know how to sift through it.
In June 2025, at 26 years old, Sydney made a decision. She wasn't going to keep living like this. She wasn't going to let this be her narrative for the rest of her life. She was single, she had time, and she knew: why not now?
In this powerful case study, Sydney shares how she finally learned to separate what she perceived to be her reality from what was actually true. How she got to the bottom of the iceberg instead of just trying to fix the tip. How she learned to feel her feelings without falling down the rabbit hole. How she stopped slapping positive affirmations and Scripture on top of pain that hadn't been processed.
And how she finally invited God into the one area of her life she'd kept Him out of: her food, her body, her self-image.
Today, Sydney is living from a place of freedom. She's comfortable being alone with herself and with God. She actually looks forward to journaling and praying. She's not turning to food for comfort anymore because she's found real comfort in God and in herself.
And the sweetest part? She's now able to pass on what she's learned. She's helping her friends catch the lies they're believing. She's loving people better because she finally learned how to love herself.
If you've ever felt like you know God's promises are true but they don't feel true for you, or if you've ever felt disconnected from God even while serving Him, Sydney's story is for you. Because healing isn't about trying harder or knowing more. It's about getting to the root. And it's about finally inviting God into the places you've kept Him out.
HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @LeanneEllington // @theteenagerbrain
To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.
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