The Battle of Addiction

Trigger Warning

Dear Alcohol Video by Dax https://youtu.be/2qQ_0i_ixlM?feature=shared

Wow, I just watched this video (linked above) and it literally sucked all the air from my lungs. Because of how I grew up and the impact alcohol had on my life personally (not very pretty at the hands of others) I never struggled with it. But I have struggled with other addictions: drugs, sex, shopping, people, social media. So this video literally knocked the air out of me because I relate to the feeling of needing to numb the pain & noise. But that's not the reason I'm sharing this post.

I preface this post with all of that because I want you to know my heart. I'm not here to judge you or condemn you. I'm here to scoop you up, love you, and tell you about something that can fill the hole.

I'm sharing this so that it has an impact on your life if this is something you are battling with. I want you to know you are not alone and you are loved and accepted.

I want you to know that there is someone who can completely fill the void you're trying to fill.

There is someone who is willing to give you the free gift of grace and mercy and unconditional love. There is someone who can heal all of the trauma and pain. There is someone who says his grace is sufficient and in your weakness He is strong. That means with Him, you don't have to be strong. You don't have to have it all together to come to him. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be willing.

His name is Jesus and before you write me off as some religious nut, please hear me out.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

John 3:16-17 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."

And Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."

So if God knew you before He formed you in your mother's womb, and he gave His only Son to die for you to give you eternal life, & not judge you, but save you, and his plans for you are for good, then why would you not want to meet Him and seek a relationship with him?

Religion has caused a lot of people to be deeply hurt by the church, but that is NOT Jesus. He is perfect and pure and wants the best for your life. You just have to invite Him into your heart.

Your life circumstances aren't going to magically go away once you accept Him, which is why it's so important to get connected to a church where you can grow and learn how to develop the relationship with Him.

Not all churches are the same, but they are all full of imperfect people just like you seeking to live a better life the best way they can.

If you are ready, and you haven't already, I invite you to say this prayer and invite God into your life. It doesn't have to be perfect...God sees your heart anyway:

"Dear Lord, I come before you with a humble heart, acknowledging my sins and the need for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again, offering me salvation. I repent of my sins and invite Jesus into my life to be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for your grace, mercy, and love. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen."

If you are already saved, but feel like you want to rededicate your life, I invite you to pray this:

"Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned and wandered from You. I confess my sin, and turn from it. I recommit myself to You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiving me; I trust You to give me the strength to live for You each day of my life. Thank You for being my Savior, my Lord, and my Friend. In Your Name I pray, Amen."

I want to leave you with this: I love you and I know God loves you whether you want Him to or not. You are his child. You are his sheep, and He is the Good Shepherd who is actively seeking you out.

Matthew 18:12-14 says “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.