By Holly Wilson

Have you ever noticed how one habit can sneakily replace another? As I approach my 4-year alcohol-free anniversary–a milestone that came after a year of trying to moderate–I've been doing some soul-searching about another relationship in my life that needs attention: my struggle with sugar.

It started off innocently enough. When I stopped drinking alcohol, I would allow myself to have sweets as a reward. This practice was commonplace among my fellow sisters who were on the same alcohol-free journey. And most of the "quit lit" books I read at the time encouraged their readers to give themselves some grace during the early days of sobriety and to "eat cake" instead of drinking alcohol.

But here's what I've learned about habits: they don't just disappear—they get replaced. And if we're not intentional about trading bad habits for good habits, our brains will default to the easiest available comfort. In my case, I wasn't just giving myself grace by eating sugar; I was unconsciously recreating the same neural pathways I had with alcohol. Feeling stressed? Have a cookie (instead of wine). Feeling depressed? Have a piece of carrot cake (instead of a cocktail). Feeling happy? Have an iced lemon loaf (instead of a glass of prosecco). You get the picture!

Just yesterday, this pattern played out so clearly—though I didn't see it in the moment. I posted pictures on Facebook of a beautiful sunrise walk on the beach, which I followed up with having my favorite indulgence, a chocolate croissant. Without even realizing it, I was perpetuating that same reward system that had once convinced me I "deserved" a drink after a long day. I was not only reinforcing this habit for myself but broadcasting it on social media, unconsciously normalizing the use of food as a reward just as our culture has normalized using alcohol as one.

Going Deeper: The Real Root of Comfort-Seeking

When we dig beneath these habit patterns–whether it's reaching for wine, sugar or any other temporary comfort–what we're really trying to do is fill a void. As Billy Graham so perfectly expressed, "There's a God-shaped hole inside each of us." And only God can fill it. That's why the first phase of my alcohol-free lifestyle program is to RETURN to God as our ultimate source of comfort and peace. No earthly substance–whether alcohol, sugar or anything else–can ever satisfy what our souls are truly craving.

God reveals Himself as our true source of comfort through Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

As I meditated on this Scripture this morning, I realized that just as I once turned to alcohol for comfort during difficult times, I now reflexively reach for sugar when life feels overwhelming. The pattern is strikingly similar–seeking earthly comfort instead of heavenly peace. God allows our struggles not to shame us, but to draw us closer to Him. He uses our challenging times so we will turn to Him for comfort and experience the vastness of His love. Moreover, He uses our struggles to develop empathy for others walking similar paths.

Taking Action: My Whole30 Journey Begins

As a Christian seeking freedom from sugar addiction, I've decided it is time for me to literally practice what I preach! Next Tuesday, June 24, I am starting a 30-day sugar fast, following the diet provided in the book Whole30. I successfully completed the Whole30 diet in January, but just as I did during my early attempts to moderate alcohol five years ago, I started having sugar here and there, thinking I could control it. It didn’t take long for the sugar habit to return, and now I have it almost daily–especially when I am stressed (which as a new business owner, is quite frequently). 

You may be wondering why I am starting in the middle of the week on a random day of the month. I have learned that what should be done eventually, must be done immediately… but not so immediately that one isn’t prepared for what is to come. This goes for any diet or alcohol fast. As I write this blog post, I am out of town, so I know I will need a few days at home to prepare my kitchen (i.e., remove all things with sugar or that turn into sugar when consumed) and to prepare my mind.

I believe this journey will not only help me break free from sugar's hold but will also help me remember how it feels in the early days of sobriety. The mental gymnastics, the cravings, the emotional processing–it's all part of the transformation process. And just as I discovered that life without alcohol is infinitely better than I imagined, I trust God will show me the same truth about life without sugar.

My Christian sobriety journey has taught me that true freedom comes only when we stop seeking comfort in substances and start finding it in God's presence. I invite you to join me on this journey of discovering what happens when we truly turn to God for comfort instead of earthly substitutes. Whether you're struggling with alcohol, sugar or any other comfort-seeking behavior, remember: God is waiting to fill that void with His perfect love and peace.

Join Me on This Path

Time to slay the sugar dragon once and for all! Follow along on Instagram @coachhollywilson for daily updates and insights, or check back here weekly for more detailed reflections. And if you're thinking about taking your own break from alcohol, perhaps my sugar-free journey will give you a glimpse into what's possible when we trust God with our transformations.