Stepping Stones: Addictions – I Bet You Got One

Transformational Tip

If you thought this topic of addictions wasn’t for you, I am glad you are reading because…Newsflash: we are all addicts. We are all addicted to comfort. We all have a difficult time dealing with discomfort and especially pain. Even though we say “no pain, no gain”, it’s amazing how quickly we run from discomfort and pain.

You see, we are all born separated from God…that is the ultimate pain. This separation on the cross is what prompted even Jesus to ask God to have this “cup” pass from Him. As kids, we develop strategies to deal with pain. Unfortunately, we aren’t that mature and our “teachers” aren’t perfect, so developing coping mechanisms for physical, psychological, relational, emotional, and spiritual pain management are random, faulty, and short-sighted.

Solutions usually are flesh-driven options, knee-jerk reactions, immediate relievers. These “solutions” are Addiction Objects…things we go to and rely on instead of God in a repetitive way to fill needs that we should be looking to Him to fill. God might choose to provide other objects to fill them, but each time, we should look to Him first, not the object.

Addiction objects can be drugs, alcohol, food, pornography…but can also be anger(really any emotion), work, productivity, security, our intellect, kids, money, spending, martyrdom in the home, exercise, our looks/physique, sports/TV, hobbies, fighting, control, a relationship, sex…if it is something that comforts you or relieves some negative feeling, it can be an addiction object. People can find themselves obsessively and compulsively hooked on almost anything.

One of the great lies that Satan perpetrates on us…we use these addiction objects for self-protection, but the truth is they are really self-destructive. Just look at Solomon’s experiences in Ecclesiastes, as he pursues everything under the sun for comfort, leaving out God, and declares it is all vanity.

Today, let’s really do some honest reflection. When you are uneasy, lonely, stressed, etc, what do you go to first. Bingo, you found a probable addiction. Try to look to God first and see what He will prescribe for your pain.Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your perspective about addictions.

Prayer
Dear Father God, for many years I struggled with the pain of needing to be needed, accepted, valued. I turned to alcohol and drugs to soothe, but they caused more pain. You have freed me from my bondage to drugs and alcohol, but I still struggle with need for control. Help me tolerate discomfort as your grace is sufficient and help me grow the Mind of Christ to look to You as my ultimate Lighthouse of refuge and sanctuary. In Christ’s freeing name; And all the children of the world say - AMEN!

The Truth
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:1,8,10,13