Episode 137 :: Autumn Lytle: Stories of All That Fill Us, Comparison, Eating Disorders and Hope for Healing

Autumn Lytle is a debut author who has written a truly fantastic novel that is interwoven with her personal story of battling an eating disorder. It is called All That Fills Us, and it is the incredible journey of a woman with anorexia and how the Lord used a cross-country journey to save her life.

Autumn shares her story with me about when things began to shift in her mind and exercise, obsessing over food, and constant comparison to others by her body size to a full-blown eating disorder. Her story is full of incredible snippets of insight and healing from how her Mother helped her journal through her painful thoughts, how running changed her life, and the gift that has come from creating this beautiful novel. We work through cross-cultural ideas about body image, comparison, how we talk about ourselves, and just so much more.

I love that Autumn wrote a story that not only would have spoken to her younger, hurting self, but provides incredible insight into the mind and healing journey of someone battling disordered eating. There are so many pictures of how to (and not to) minister to someone in this struggle, and on her website, you can actually find resources for diving further into this book and/or connecting those struggling with an eating disorder with some help. Truthfully, there were so many things in this book that just touched me in a visceral way. As a woman who struggles to believe what God says about my body, and is better at shaming myself than I’d care to admit, I could hear the Lord speaking tenderly to me as I watched this protagonist wrestle.

Wherever you are friend, know that you matter, and your story matters. The Lord will finish what He has started in you.

Connecting with Autumn:

Book : All That Fills Us

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going! You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

References:

Baker Books

Erin Bartels

Autumn’s thoughts (blog) from her recovery journey

Find a therapist (great resource to find one across the U.S.)

Scripture References:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10- Thorn in my flesh

Psalm 33:11, Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 32:19, Ephesians 1:11- God made me on purpose

Genesis 1:29-31,Psalm 45:11,Psalm 139, - God made me beautiful

Genesis 3, Romans 1:18-32- Sin is horrific and it gives us all a tragic backstory

1 Peter 5:1-11, Luke 22:31, Romans 8:31-39- The evil one is against us and tries to separate us from God’s love

Psalm 34:18- The Lord is close to the brokenhearted