Addiction

A little over 30 days ago, I began sensing that God wanted me to start journaling some of my thoughts and ideas. As I began writing, I felt a very clear direction about certain struggles within my own life and struggles that I have witnessed firsthand within my own family and close friends that I wanted to share. No one is immune to struggle in this life. At first, I thought how can I write about addiction. To say that I have been headlong into it, full on, life consuming….not necessarily. But have there been things in my life that draw me away from the Lord…Yes. How about that lifelong battle with food? We tend to put values or degrees on what consumes our mind. Is drug addiction worse than food addiction? Is alcohol addiction worse than sexual addiction?

Webster defines addiction as a compulsive, or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, tremors or nausea upon withdrawal or abstinence. A strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly.

So how does addiction start? Often it starts because we feel we are lacking something or trying to fill a void. It begins slowly, then over time it takes over. It is a gentle creeping-in, then when full blown consumes every facet of our life. The thoughts become so intense that they direct what seems like our every thought.

Maybe the doctor gives you some medicine for your leg……it’s really hurting so you take 2 pills this time instead of the 1 prescribed……hey that really helped…..next time its 3 pills…..6 months down the road you don’t have enough pills to last the next 30 days…..you seek other unlawful means of getting enough to sustain.

Maybe you start posting pictures of yourself on social media….just fun stuff…..then someone or a lot of people hit that “like” button….you think WOW I like this attention….you begin posting more and more….It’s the first thing you look at when you wake up in the morning….the last thing at night…..Before you know it social media controls you…..You can’t put your phone down….Validation by other people consumes you….Your self-worth is now dependent on other peoples “Comments & Likes”

Maybe a Facebook ad comes up and you click the link…..One peak won’t hurt….but then you can’t stop thinking about it….so you do it again…... Before long, you are visiting inappropriate sites, and you begin to lose interest in all things that used to be satisfying and worthy of your attention…. Your former joy has been stolen.

No one expects to wake up one morning and dive headlong into sin or addiction. It is a gradual chipping away of your morality. It makes you lie to yourself, justifying your actions and twisting truth. Satan is taking our minds captive by the very things in this modern world that they say make our lives easier. His crafty tricks haven’t changed over time. He still seeks to draw us away from God and into the realm of self-gratification, instant gratification and demoralizing of ourselves. He is destroying our families, one by one, day by day. As Christians we must wake up and take our power back. Love a brother who has fallen. Pick up a friend in need. Encourage someone who is struggling. We must open our eyes to the hurting. They are all around us. Let’s also be careful that we don’t think that it can’t happen to us.

In 1 Corinthians 10:12 it says, "therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."

It goes on to say in verse 13, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

While there is absolute shame in all these situations, God still loves you. He loved you all the way to the cross.

So how do we break that cycle? First, recognize that the behavior is sinful and acknowledge it. Seek scripture to find the truth. Second, admit it to God and ask forgiveness. Thirdly, stay in prayer continually, seeking direction. Search out wise counsel and become accountable to other Christians. And lastly, recognize that God still loves you through it all. He wants a restored relationship with us, one that will glorify Him. He can use your story if you will let Him!