Whatever you past may have been, God has a better future in mind for you. But before you can reach for it, you must forgive the people who’ve hurt you, forgive yourself and let it go. You may feel ashamed of your past mistakes, unsure if you can really take personal responsibility and move forward. You can. You are able, through Christ.
The first step is raising your hand and admitting you’ve got a problem. There is such power in dropping the pose of “I’ve got it all under control” and admitting you need some help. In your weakness, you will find strength. It is time to “Forget those things which are behind … to reach forward to those things that are ahead.” (Phil 3:13)
I don’t have to beat this. Jesus can.
Perhaps the greatest giant of all we face is addiction. It doesn’t just steal away my life but the lives of those closest to me. Everyone of us has an addiction story where it eventually snuffed the life out of people, relationships, families, businesses and dreams.
If we’re all honest, we’re all addicted to something – alcohol, success, adrenaline, pain, porn – that thing we can’t live without or the thing we fear we can’t manage life without. It could be a person. It could be money/possessions or control. Porn is a giant of addiction pouring its way into so many lives right now.
What is it that causes me to want the bottle? The pills? The success or adrenaline? What is it that causes me to run to the porn for relief? What is it that drives me to think, “I need to go there”?
Underneath all of it – is this fear of being exposed. When we are exposed, we tend to want to cover up our weaknesses. Oftentimes, it leads into an addiction that can be a short-term cover for the exposed heart that we don’t want the world to see.
Adam & Eve sinned, ran from God and hid. It’s the natural human default to our sin and weakness. When I feel weak, I don’t want to step into the light. When I fail, I don’t want to step into the light nor do I want to do that when I feel the most vulnerable. None of us want to say, “I need help” – or – “I am feeling very vulnerable right now” – or – “I feel rejected” – or – “I feel emptiness” – or – “I feel a great level of boredom”.
None of us naturally want to say, “help me through this”. No, typically, we retreat from the light and drift into the shadows to find something to cover up our vulnerable heart to bring us comfort.
Vulnerable – none of us wants to feel it. Whenever it comes, I quickly look for some way to cope. Many of us choose a short-term fix which ultimately leads to more vulnerability because I am dependent on the comfort.
Addiction makes you even more vulnerable. It is a cycle that drives you further into dependency, further into isolation and further into addiction. Freedom comes when you do the opposite of what your flesh desires. Freedom comes when you admit you’re weak and you raise your hand to ask for help.
more to come…
Deep Roots. Mighty Oaks. 