Addiction and God

Some of my friends have been addicts, some still are. Personally, I was addicted to alcohol at one point in my life. Many people do not understand addictions, and say silly things like, "Why don't they just stop?" Well, it is not as simple as that. Addiction usually starts out as a way of self medicating to control depression or forget some trauma in one's life. With truly addictive drugs like meth, heroin, cocaine this is truly dangerous as they are physically as well as psychologically addictive. Essentially, the mind and body will not function properly without them once addicted. So long after one is past their depression or trauma that started them using to begin with the need for the drug continues. People that have never done drugs may never understand, and therefore really have no reason to comment. And addicts are great at denial, no they are not addicted to the drug they can quit at anytime, they just do the drug to get things done, or all my friends do drugs are some of the common

excuses. The sad thing is they will put drugs ahead of everything else, friends, children, jobs, homes, and even God. They will compromise their morals while still clinging to some image of being Christian. I have seen kind and caring individuals turn into monsters that mock the non-user and even turn on those that truly care for them in favor of druggie friends whose only drive is to do more drugs. They will turn to bad people in order to get more drugs that will simply use them for sex, money, or anything else they can get off them. Any attempt to try to convince the addict they are an addict in need of help is likely to be met with hostility. It doesn't need to be that way. God can do anything even help an addict during recovery. By praying for addicts, and once they see they have a problem getting them to pray for their own recovery we can help them get back to a life of clean living.  Once sweet, loving, and kind individuals can return to being that again. Many addicts that are truly kind wage a war within themselves trying to remain kind and caring while fighting the selfishness and cruelty that comes with drug addiction. They do cruel things which they regret, and then try to make up for them with acts of kindness. Somehow the two never balance out with the bad outweighing the good. What does the Bible have to say about addiction?

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. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7)

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:4)

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

As you see, the Bible over and over and over tells us that God can help us overcome temptations of

the flesh. It also tells us giving into such temptations take us away from Christ. If we are to be Godly, caring individuals we must step away from such temptations as meth, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and turn back to God. No one should place drugs above their sons and daughters, their jobs, their homes, their lives, their God. People are meant to love God, their friends, their family, and especially their children. Drugs take them away from all these people. I do not judge the addict. It is hard to stop, even harder to recognize one has a problem. Usually one has to hit rock bottom, and that is painful for anyone that truly loves them to see. Most addicts will see me as being self righteous with this post. That is the addiction talking for what I say is true, and I would hope that on some level they see a need to return to a life of sanity, to a life of caring for their children, their friends, their family, and turn back to God.  But until the time that my addict friends realize they have a problem and seek recovery, I will pray to God that they see their way to the other side of addiction, and that God lets them know I will be waiting for them on the other side.