Are You Perhaps Addicted?

Romans 7:15-24

Message No. 0801 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

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Many people are addicted to certain practices and behaviours and they are unable to help themselves. In this writing, we reiterate the potency in the power of the Blood of Jesus to set free. We also suggest to seek help from institutional facilities as these may make it easier to live the addictive practices behind.

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“First, I became incarcerated, and my child became my cellmate. In that moment, the reality of my choices hit me harder than ever. I knew deep down that I needed to change, not just for myself but for my child. Then, not long after, my mother passed away while I was still incarcerated. I had this false belief that the world would be the same as it was when I first started using. But I was wrong. Life had moved on, and the consequences of my actions were staring me in the face. I had the opportunity to see my mother one last time while I was in a federal penitentiary, housed in a provincial correctional center. In that moment, I promised her that I would change my life. I confessed things I had never told her before, laying bare all my mistakes, my guilt, and my pain.”

The above were the words of a lady who was addicted and who, fortunately, was able to find recovery when it became clear to her that she was heading to destruction, not only of herself but also of her family, if she didn’t change. And not everyone is as fortunate as she was to finally find freedom. Some research shows that about 25 percent of those who are addicted will die without recovery. Statistics also show that in the 12 months to August 2024, 92,000 people died of drug overdose in the US alone. Thank God that this figure came down to 73,000 in the following year. It will be frightening to collate the global figures.

When we mention addiction, people think drugs, but as we all know, not all addictions are drug related. People are addicted in many more ways, including to substances and behaviours. If you are doing something that you do not want to do, and you are not being coerced into doing it, then it is safe to assume that you are addicted. Writing to the church in Rome, Paul described a troubling condition as follows:

Romans 7:15-24 NKJV

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 

While we do not completely understand the conditions under which Paul wrote, and we cannot conclude that he was addicted, he certainly described what it means to continue doing what one does not want to do, and is a great scriptural learning passage for us all, because many of God’s children, though saved, remain addicted to certain practices and choices that they wish they can let go of. As I mentioned in the past, I briefly attended a church where some members would come out during church service to smoke, and go back into the church to continue the service. It was shocking to me then, as I could not have imagined that such a thing was possible, but it describes exactly the struggles that many children of God go through. 

In its acute state, addiction does not stop with doing what you hate, it gravitates to bondage, where you are looking for a way out but could not seem to find one. It might seem simplistic to say do not start a practice you do not want to continue, but prevention is always the best way to not get into trouble. This is one reason the Bible says to flee from all appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Addiction could start with little things like eating too much, drinking too much, watching too much television, spending too much time on social media, partying too much, excessive shopping and so on. Let’s not even mention substance abuse or immorality, or other behaviours that are clearly frowned at in christendom. 

If you are addicted and have tried all you could but could not stop, then it might be time to seek help. In the words of a past addict, she said that after trying all to no avail, she finally came to Jesus and said, please help me, I can’t fix myself. If you have prayed personally, self-determined, and done other things and nothing is working, then it might be time to take additional steps. A complete surrender to God is the best way out, but you must also avoid situations that always take you backward. There are also other institutional facilities that are in place in many societies where people who are addicted go to for some periods until they can live without their addictions.

There is no practice that we can’t do without. Our God designed and created us perfectly. We just need to take the right decisions and actions. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross paid for our infirmities and diseases. His resurrection gave us victory over every enemy. As you go back to God for confession and forgiveness, I pray that His mercy will overcome every judgment and that His Blood will permanently set you free, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What to Do?

Go back to God in repentance and surrender.