Addictions

When we are at our weakest,

God gives us His strength to persevere through the

toughest situations into victory.

There are so many things in life that can lead to an addiction of one thing or another. But in reality, an addiction is formed because the body and mind have created a dependency for that thing that is not a part of our natural being. Some may become dependent on another person, or merely their presence. One may have a favorite soft drink, tea, coffee, or candy you enjoy to the point you consume it every day. Others may become dependent on a prescribed medication, an illegal drug, alcohol, pornography, gambling or the latest most common dependency, social media. Although most will not consider some of these as addictions, they most certainly are. Webster’s Dictionary provides one definition of addiction as: a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly, hence each of the examples above. The only difference of those listed, are the affects and consequences of each.

I recall a time when I was suffering with a horrible headache every day. I dealt with sinus congestion, allergies, and migraines to the point I was simply miserable and unable to comfortably function in normal daily activities, including work. Every morning I would take a sinus tablet, and allergy tablet and a pain reliever to give me a little relief during my workday. It became a routine because without the tablets, it was impossible for me to get through the morning pain and breathing complications. Every two to three months, I was in an emergency clinic being diagnosed with sinusitis, requiring even more medication. After I had done this for about a year, I finally made appointments with different doctors to find out the source of my problems. One doctor educated me by letting me know that my body had become dependent on the medications I had been taking. I was informed that although my allergies and sinus congestion were very real, and although some of the medicine did actually relieve the symptoms temporarily, none of them were curing the cause of the symptoms. I was simply putting a band-aide on the symptoms. Meanwhile, my brain was influencing my body, developing a dependency for the band-aide resulting in migraines which occurred when the medicines wore off. Basically, I had unknowingly become a drug addict and just as with any other addiction, I had to ween myself off these over the counter- interoffice first aid kit- and convenience store quick pack tablets that people take without much thought. I have never used illegal drugs of any kind but clearly, I had become an addict.

I share this with hopes that each reader will take a different look at addiction. In society, we typically view drug addicts and alcoholics as unbecoming and we tend to devalue the lives of those victims of these vices. However, most people you encounter every day are addicted to something, we just don’t know of their addiction because we cannot see the evidence and consequences of it as vividly as we can see the evidence of a drug or alcohol addiction. One is no better or worse on the addiction scale, if there is such a scale. Rather than frowning upon any person living with an addiction, we are charged to bear one another’s burdens in Galatians 6:2, meaning to help each other. Realize that an addiction begins because a person introduced his/her body to something that the body and brain responded to in a less than favorable manner. Some might say that if a person never used the drug or never drank alcohol, they wouldn’t have to worry about becoming addicted to it in the first place. Well that may be true, but in the first sentence of this writing, I stated that there are many things in life that can lead to an addiction. Please be aware that some current adult situations may have resulted from a childhood act stemmed from peer pressure, someone wanting to fit in or simply not be ridiculed by the crowd; Or the common familiar behavior such as family serving wine with dinner every evening or a dad sharing a beer with his son for his 21st birthday. It seems harmless but Dad’s body may not respond to alcohol as the son’s body does and eventually those innocent drinks became a necessity for the son. And the one thing that nobody ever considers when they see an addict is, it is quite possible the person never willingly and knowingly used the drug at any time prior to becoming dependent on it. There are so many people who are victims of someone’s prank or someone’s evil act of adding drugs or alcohol to another person’s cigarette or drink to make them become dependent on it. After a short period of doing this, the unsuspecting person is now addicted. This is a sad reality for many.

The good news is, everyone can overcome an addiction or dependency. If we all do our part to bear one another’s burdens by praying for them to first have the desire to overcome it, secondly for grace and strength to overcome it, thirdly continuously encouraging others, and lastly showing compassion as the word instructs us to do- no judgment or criticism only COMPASSION. You don’t have to know a person’s story; you simply need to know your role in the story.

NKJV

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2.

New American Standard

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

NKJV

But God said to him, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’. Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

New American Standard

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

NKJV

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

I Peter 3:8.

New American Standard

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.

#addictions #weakness #grace #compassion