From Coffee Addict To Caffeine Free: Laying Down Coffee At The Foot of The Cross Part 1

I never thought I would be writing this post…ever. But, here we are. And God has brought me to this place.

I have had a long journey with coffee and caffeine. I have always loved the flavor of coffee and coffee flavored things, like coffee ice cream, coffee yogurt, and coffee candy. Even as a 10-year-old, I can remember wanting the cappuccino blasts from Baskin Robbins. Starting around age 18, I had 4 cups of coffee daily at minimum. Struggling with food and body image issues, once I found out coffee was an appetite suppressant and diuretic (not to mention a stimulant), I became a coffee addict. (Take Note: coffee is a substance you can become addicted to).

In 2018, God was taking me through a whole refining process. He was healing me of food and body image issues, and I was doing all sorts of different fasts (make up, music, mirrors, etc.). He called me to lay down coffee for 10 days—which turned into 6 months. During that time I switched to decaf. Like I said, I love the flavor of coffee. If you’ve been a coffee drinker for years, it’s hard to transition away from your morning cup. And tea just is NOT the same. I also learned at this time that caffeine can exhaust your adrenal glands, which has all sorts of negative effects, some of which I was experiencing. However, I did not give up all caffeine. I drank quite a bit of green and black tea in its stead.

I’m not totally sure how caffeinated coffee crept back in, but it did. Convinced I was cured of my coffee addiction, I limited my intake to 3 tablespoons daily. Any time I fasted, which included the 40-day Sugar Fast every January, I would lay down caffeinated coffee. So I thought I had no problem.

Starting in the fall of last year, I felt God nudging me to give up caffeine. In times of silence during prayer, I would feel God whisper to my heart to give up caffeinated coffee. I would make the promise to God that the next day I would reduce my caffeine intake (at this point I was down to 2 tablespoons per day). But the next day would come, and I still drank the same. Finally, in December of last year, God heavily convicted me to lay down caffeine. I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I am going to be very transparent with you so you can understand the full struggle I had in laying down coffee. All of my life I have struggled with constipation. Coffee seemed to be the cure for this daily struggle. 95% of the time, it worked. (Decaf has a similar effect, but it’s not quite as potent as regular coffee. And often, I have to make a stronger brew or drink more in volume). Over my lifetime, I have tried everything. Fiber powder, prunes, increased water intake, Senna, juicing. You name it, I’ve tried it. So coffee seemed simple. And I liked it.

In December, I tried giving up caffeinated coffee for a day. I was constipated, frustrated, upset, and angry. I had laid down so many different things over the years as a follower of Christ. Why couldn’t I just keep my coffee? I was no longer abusing it and it helped keep me regular. Which, there’s physical and emotional discomfort that can come with constipation. Why was God taking this now?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

In praying about surrendering coffee, there were 3 things that God gave me.

1. “Cast your net on the other side.”

I kept hearing this phrase repeated in my mind. Knowing the Bible story, I decided to reread it. In John 21, Jesus’ disciples decide to go fishing. After fishing all night, they had caught nothing.

“Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.” –John 21:4-6

I read an article that said the right side is actually the weaker side for fisherman, because you are using your left arm to haul. God told me that even though I had tried everything I knew, multiple times, to cure constipation, I had to try again. This time, with Him. I had to cast my net on the other side. Not depending on coffee or in my own strength, but in my weakness, depending only on Jesus and believing He will heal me.

2. Jesus is a better King.

The December day I decided to give up caffeinated coffee I heard a song I had never heard before. (It’s not really the type of artist I would listen to, but I know God speaks to me through song lyrics). I had submitted to God’s will, but I was still unhappy about it. These lyrics played:

Feels like I’m always walking with baggage
Feels like I’m always walking with baggage
And I just want to be free
Just look down and be free

Who made control look so tempting?
Who made control feel so empty?
‘Cause I know they’re fooling me
They keep on fooling me

I prove You right every time
My ways may seem right but
Yours are higher than mine

‘Cause You’re a better king
Than I could ever be
Rule over and overrule me

Rule over and OVERRULE me. They hit the heart. That’s what I want. I want Jesus to overrule my judgements when I’m in error. I think my ways are right, but God’s ways are higher than mine. He’s the better King. Would I let Him reign in this area? Yes.

3. Coffee OR more of the Holy Spirit?

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:20-21

From the day I was saved, I have always desired to grow more in God. Prophecy is a gift I desire to grow more in. After reading these verses, I felt God clearly say to me, “If you want to operate more in prophecy, you will have to be more sensitive to My Spirit. In order to go higher, you will have to let go of coffee. Depend only on Me. Relying on coffee will limit and hinder the work and movement of the Holy Spirit in your life.”

Coffee or more of Jesus? The choice was mine.

I choose Jesus every time.

The struggle didn’t end there. Read Part 2 for more.