2 Peter 2:19 (NLT) They promise freedom but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to what controls you.
Addiction is such an ugly word. The world sees it and cringes. Much more, the world sees an addict, and cringes, thinking to stay far away from anything resembling addiction. It is something producing images of people hiding out on street corners or alleyways, shooting up heroin or smoking crack. You may see someone snort cocaine or even Oxycontin. Alcohol is a drug that people turn to every day to cope with problems they feel they can't handle. There are those who start out taking medications after a surgery or other medical reasons, but continue after the medical problems resolve. They become addicted just as easily to it as people do to other drugs or alcohol. You picture addicts homeless, on the streets, panhandling for change, or doing whatever they have to do to get by. But you probably work with a "functioning" addict at your job, and just don't realize it. So many learn to cope with the addiction on an everyday basis and never become desperate or homeless. Many do drugs recreationally and deny they are addicts. But the truth of the matter is, they are. Any time a person does any drugs in any form; pill, drink, smoke, or snort and then looks forward to, or can't wait to do it again, is an addict. Doesn't matter if it was 15 minutes ago, or 15 days ago. It's still an addiction, just to a different degree.
If you yourself are an addict, lived with or loved an addict, are a recovering addict, just know an addict, or have seen an addict, just know that God loves them too. God loves that addict just as much as He loves you. Addicts don't want to be an addict. They don't want to be a slave to the drug. Yes it is a choice, but it is a vicious cycle that is very, very hard to break. Bodies and minds become controlled by drugs. Drugs changes their brains in many ways that we can't always understand. Long term addicts will never be quite the same as they were. Depression plays a large part in an addicts life. Addicts love their families just like you do, and want to to eat, live and function in a nice home just like you. But there is always hope for every addict. God is that hope!
When people get lost in the world, lose a job, lonely and depressed, they sometimes turn to what other people share with them. We share many things with our family and friends, or even strangers. Do we share our hope with others? Without hope in our lives, what do we have? Without hope, we tend to give up. Hope may be the most uplifting thing we share with someone who feels lost and alone. Hopelessness can become addicting. When life gets tough, where does you hope come from? My hope comes from God. God has carried me personally, through some tremendously tough times brought on by addictions. Addictions of loved ones in my life, from an early age, up through my adult life. I have even dealt with addiction myself. It is an ongoing process. Something I struggle with everyday. But I do Praise God that He is with me everyday, loving each of us, despite our ugliness!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) "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."
Someone you know, may need to hear about hope from the Lord. And the only way they may hear about God, is from YOU. Instead of turning your eyes from what is right in front of you, try turning your eyes upon Jesus. There is hope that He wants to give to you so that you may pass it on to someone else.....................................................
PEACE & PASS IT ON
Addiction is such an ugly word. The world sees it and cringes. Much more, the world sees an addict, and cringes, thinking to stay far away from anything resembling addiction. It is something producing images of people hiding out on street corners or alleyways, shooting up heroin or smoking crack. You may see someone snort cocaine or even Oxycontin. Alcohol is a drug that people turn to every day to cope with problems they feel they can't handle. There are those who start out taking medications after a surgery or other medical reasons, but continue after the medical problems resolve. They become addicted just as easily to it as people do to other drugs or alcohol. You picture addicts homeless, on the streets, panhandling for change, or doing whatever they have to do to get by. But you probably work with a "functioning" addict at your job, and just don't realize it. So many learn to cope with the addiction on an everyday basis and never become desperate or homeless. Many do drugs recreationally and deny they are addicts. But the truth of the matter is, they are. Any time a person does any drugs in any form; pill, drink, smoke, or snort and then looks forward to, or can't wait to do it again, is an addict. Doesn't matter if it was 15 minutes ago, or 15 days ago. It's still an addiction, just to a different degree.
If you yourself are an addict, lived with or loved an addict, are a recovering addict, just know an addict, or have seen an addict, just know that God loves them too. God loves that addict just as much as He loves you. Addicts don't want to be an addict. They don't want to be a slave to the drug. Yes it is a choice, but it is a vicious cycle that is very, very hard to break. Bodies and minds become controlled by drugs. Drugs changes their brains in many ways that we can't always understand. Long term addicts will never be quite the same as they were. Depression plays a large part in an addicts life. Addicts love their families just like you do, and want to to eat, live and function in a nice home just like you. But there is always hope for every addict. God is that hope!
When people get lost in the world, lose a job, lonely and depressed, they sometimes turn to what other people share with them. We share many things with our family and friends, or even strangers. Do we share our hope with others? Without hope in our lives, what do we have? Without hope, we tend to give up. Hope may be the most uplifting thing we share with someone who feels lost and alone. Hopelessness can become addicting. When life gets tough, where does you hope come from? My hope comes from God. God has carried me personally, through some tremendously tough times brought on by addictions. Addictions of loved ones in my life, from an early age, up through my adult life. I have even dealt with addiction myself. It is an ongoing process. Something I struggle with everyday. But I do Praise God that He is with me everyday, loving each of us, despite our ugliness!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) "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."
Someone you know, may need to hear about hope from the Lord. And the only way they may hear about God, is from YOU. Instead of turning your eyes from what is right in front of you, try turning your eyes upon Jesus. There is hope that He wants to give to you so that you may pass it on to someone else.....................................................
PEACE & PASS IT ON
