Have you ever noticed that substance abuse addicts inevitably go down one of two roads: It’s either the road that includes jail, depravity, and ultimately death, or the road to true recovery and the associated societal reference as “Jesus freaks”.
Addiction to anything is a horrible existence. We become addicts, not just because we want that temporary high, or an escape from our pressures and stress, but because of the emptiness in ourselves we are desperately trying to fill. And the drugs, booze or anything else we use to provide this temporary feeling of contentment ends up making the emptiness, and our guilt, grow. We start with a couple drinks, or a little smoke, or perhaps a snort. And our temporary escape is like painting a termite-infested house.
Sadly, we rationalize that a greater helping will make our situation better and casual substance usage quickly turns into emotional dependence and abuse. Yes, there’s often a physical side as well, but the poor success rate of rehabilitation clinics speaks to a deeper issue. You can’t take something away without providing a substitute that addresses the condition that led to addiction in the first place. How do we fill that emptiness in our souls?
We can’t. And that’s the point. Only our creator, who provided mankind with a spirit and a soul, but also free will to choose our own destiny, can fill this void. This is an intimidating proposition at first, but it is the single road to lasting recovery. Yes, God is all-powerful, all knowing and ever-present. But he also loves us in spite of all of our bad thoughts, choices and actions. Recovery comes with the acknowledgment that our Father in heaven loves us unconditionally, in a way no human father ever could. Think about it: Would you sacrifice your only son to take away the sins of an undeserving group of people? This is how much He loves us.
I read hundreds of books in my first 40 years on this planet, yet none of them was the Bible. It was only when I hit bottom, realizing that this self-made man had built his life on the sand, that I was willing to consider a way other than my own. I now read the Bible daily, and learn something new every day.
Call me whatever you like. But I am no longer a drug addict. And I will never be the same, thank God.