Addiction/Recovery
Some of us are in prison. Not a prison made of four walls, but the worst kind of prison–a self-made prison.
Our prisons are built decision by decision, habit by habit. They could be prisons of . . .
- Anger, shame, or other painful emotions
- Addictions or unhealthy habits
- Abusive and toxic relationships
In our prisons, we get too comfortable and stay there. Why?
Because (1) working through our past trauma of anger, shame, or other painful emotions is hard, so we avoid facing the pain. (more…)
Addiction/Recovery
Do you struggle with depression? Have you tried to ignore it, hoping it will go away? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, having depression makes you twice as likely to have a drug or alcohol addiction compared to someone who does not have depression. When depressed, you may turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. Once it wears off and the feelings of despair return, you may increase your drug or alcohol use—this is where addiction takes root.
It is possible to get out of the pit of depression, despair, and addiction. Recognize what depression looks like. Identify the common signs of drug and alcohol addiction. Then, seek a treatment plan that works.
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Addiction/Recovery
“God says, ‘Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity‘”—Isaiah 57:14
If you’re driving on a single lane road and encounter a fallen tree or powerline, what should you do? You could drive around the mess or do a U-turn, but someone must eventually clear away the clutter to make the road usable.
When Israel had been exiled, God told the prophet Isaiah, “I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway!! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn” (Isaiah 57:18). God called Isaiah to be a prophet when he was overwhelmed with his struggles. But he turned to God anyway and was delivered from his failures. (more…)
Addiction/Recovery
How are diamonds made? They go through three steps to be refined: First, they’re put under a pressure of 735,000 pounds per inch. Next, they’re put under the extreme heat of 2,200 Fahrenheit. Finally, they’re cut.
If you’re struggling with addiction, you must go through a similar process of being refined during recovery. It involves going through fire to get rid of unhealthy patterns and creating healthy patterns to purify you. Don’t expect God to take all your difficulties away—He won’t. But remember Jesus is God in human flesh and will help you endure the fiery furnace.
Here are some ways He helps you in recovery. (more…)
Life Issues
“We don’t always have to be strong or pretend to be perfect.” – Steve Arterburn
Perfectionism and addiction go hand in hand. Those of us who struggle with addiction can be extremely hard on ourselves. We don’t give ourselves any room for mistakes, and it’s easy for us to procrastinate or give up because we’re afraid of not being good enough.
When things don’t go perfectly as planned, some of us use it as an excuse to go back to addiction. (more…)
