God’s Commitment to the Addicted Person
Editors View
If we were honest with ourselves, we’d admit that each of us struggles with some type of addictive attachment,
some habit, compulsion or practice that we have given ourselves over to. We use them to manage our own pain, disappointments and longings. In doing so, we effectively become our own gods and tell God that we don’t need Him. While I am certain that God is tremendously pained by how we treat Him, He has not left us to ourselves. He has given us a Savior from our addictive tendencies in the person and righteousness of Jesus Christ. In His love for us (Ephesians 3:17), He could not let us go or leave us to ourselves without doing everything possible to save us from ourselves.
It is touching to read the testimonials that show the specific ways that God has intervened in the lives of His wayward children to bring them back home. Grace is at work slowly and at times imperceptibly working through circumstances opening the heart to the work of the Holy Spirit. Don’t you love God for not giving up on you?
But one of the most powerful truths about God’s commitment to the addict is the power of transformation. God does more than save us and cover us with His righteousness. He also has the power to change us. He starts by loving us and embracing us just where we are. Then He helps us to begin seeing areas of our lives that are self destructive: thoughts, emotions and behaviors. The Holy Spirit is always speaking to us letting us know when we need correction and reassuring us when we have victory.
God’s commitment to us is so strong that He will finish the work of sanctification (Philippians 1:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) unless we tell Him to stop. He does not violate our free will even to heal our addiction. He knows why we hang onto our idols. As Ray Nelson points out in his piece on Step 5, it is important to admit not only what we do, but why we do it. Are we comforting a hurt or meeting a perceived need? God wants us to know Him as Comforter (2 Corinthians 1:3) and the Supplier of all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). If we allow Him, God will not stop His work of cleansing our soul temples until He gets to the bottom root of the sin problem in us. He knows how to work with each of us as individuals using the methods that we need. Don’t you love that kind of a God?
Please continue to send your testimonials of recovery and feedback on the newsletter. We are looking for pieces on recent and future recovery events. If you would like to write about your experience with working the steps, contact me.