I just finished praying for a friend of mine. She reached out on social media for help. She is an addict. I have friends and family that are addicts, and my heart breaks for them. But I have good news, so does God’s, and He wants to see them living a joyful and fruitful life full of hope.
Addiction is powerful. I myself have never battled drug addiction, but I have seen it up close and personal in people I love deeply. I cleaned up after them, when they literally destroyed the homes they were living in. I helped them find resources, when they didn’t know where to turn. I gave them love and encouragement and support, but ultimately, most feel back into the pit. Why?
In most cases, it is because they didn’t change their playmates and playground. They thought they could handle the addiction on their own. They thought if they just tried hard enough to resist, they would be OK. The truth though is that some addictions, habits, and strongholds require God to intervene AND for us to be willing to do whatever He asks. And even then, the desire for those sins may never go away, but He has promised to give us a way out of every temptation.
I am a firm believer that no matter our damage, there is help out there big enough to overcome it. I have a lot of damage, and I’ve done a lot to overcome it. For me, and my struggles, this meant clinging to Christ, counseling, medication, support, and even starting this blog! We must be willing to do whatever it takes.
Several of the people I know who successfully overcame major addiction, and I mean major, full blow, destined for life in prison addiction, did so by working for the groups that helped them heal. In some cases, these folks even started their own ministries! How awesome is that! God turned what Satan meant for evil into so much more good!
When you take something negative out of your life, you MUST replace it with something else, and that something else, first and foremost, needs to be God. All healing will come from that one decision. Put Him first and put Him in charge. One of my favorite Toby Mac songs contains the line, “If I’m a go down, I’m a go down swinging.” Keep fighting. Turn your eyes to where your help comes from.
Finding Joy: What areas of your life aren’t serving you well? They may be small choices or big ones or actions you feel at this point aren’t even choices, they are instinct. You are worth saving. You do not want to be a slave to drugs, sex, food, or anything else that does more damage than good.
Pray that God gives you strength and guides your steps. Be willing to take them, and if you aren’t sure which direction to go, reach out. There are people like me and others who want to see you not only surviving but thriving. And you can with God’s help.
Related Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Corinthians 6:12 – All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything.
Corinthians 15:33 – Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.
James 5:15-16 – And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Romans 5: 3-5 – More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Listen to This: This is the song by TobyMac that I referenced in the post. I pray you don’t go down, but if you do, go down swinging! https://youtu.be/pIR24ubUf0E
No Comment