Addiction


In case you didn't know, I hate drugs. I don't even really like prescription or over the counter. I will be in huge pain before I take an excedrin, ibuprofen, or anything. My daughter at one time was on 7 different prescriptions, it drove me insane, not only the cost but the fact that her body was not able to heal itself. Someone in my family was addicted to a "non-addictive" drug, back in the day (it wasn't someone super close to me, but we all feel the affects).

I hate that my daughter's father chose drugs over me, I would have stood by him while he decided to get off them. But apparently cocaine can be chosen over love at any given time. And because of this, my daughter is being raised without a father. It hurts her, and because of that, it hurts me.

I've seen friends of mine who think "they have it all under control" get fired from really good jobs because they come to work high and drunk and think "no one will notice".

I've seen the affects of drugs and alcohol abuse and what it does to families. I've seen people fly off the handle, drunk, in an otherwise normal situation because they can't manage the emotions because everything is masked. I've seen mothers leave husbands and children, I've seen husbands walk away from families, and I've seen children leave their parents, only to lose the battle to death.

I've seen young people with such potential only to have it stolen by the wrong choices of using drugs and alcohol.

I've seen someone just recently go back to a life of drugs. Someone who I came to really love, someone who had this awesome potential, when he smiled, Lord have mercy, it was all Jesus. The greatest personality that shined right on through, but in my opinion wasn't ready to surrender it all to Jesus.

I've recently met back up with someone who "used" for the last year, and says "they weren't addicted". You know what worries me the most, that he can't admit it. He knows, God knows, but he can't admit it in his outloud voice.

We all have our addictions. I'm not saying one addiction is better (or worse) than another. I'm not judging. I'm not saying that drugs are better (or worse) than porn. That overeating (hey that's me), is better (or worse) than drugs, not saying that traveling at the speed of light is better (or worse) than any of the above (hey, that's me too).

This is what I am saying. We have this place, where we are safe, where we are protected, AND LOVED, where the strength is greater than anything we could do by or four ourselves.

His name is Jesus. But we need to lay it all down at a cross that we didn't deserve. That as Hal said the other day, our salvation was instant, our healing is continuous (I think that's the jist of what he said). We gotta surrender. We gotta shut up, stop moving, and give it to Him, and listen to the steps in which we are going to take to be more like Him, and live in His light, and give Him the Glory.

I hate addiction. I love Jesus.

Matthew 11:28-30 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Comments

Pat said…
This is so good. I'm so glad I can cast my burdens on Him - he carries them and gives me rest. He's the only addictions we need - the Addiction to Jesus and His love.
Vikki said…
As always you are BANG ON!

but do you think you would have stood by him for 10years while he 'decided to get off them?'

just curious cause that's how long it took in our case. 10 yrs of Dr.Jekyl & Mr.Hyde. 10yrs of chaos, insecurity, shame & suffering. I'm thankful that we are where we are, and that last year my husband chose to surrender his addiction and give his heart & life to Jesus.

But I know you know, not every story has a happy ending. Many don't make it. Many families suffer far too long at the hands of an addict. Perhaps God released you & your daughter from a lifetime of pain.

oops, what I really wanted to comment on, was "We gotta surrender. We gotta shut up, stop moving, and give it to Him, and listen to the steps in which we are going to take to be more like Him, and live in His light, and give Him the Glory."

thank you. I've been really struggling this week. I need to go write down my steps.
Margie said…
Vikki, I have no idea how long I would have been able to stand by him. It would have been rough, I am sure. I think God did release us from all that.

I am struggling because the two I mentioned "the smile" and the person who can't lay it down are so hard on my heart, I can't stop asking God to call them to surrender.
Mrs. Mac said…
I'm addicted to Jesus ;)
Becky said…
beautifully put!
Vikki said…
...and for that, Margie, I have no words of wisdom. I understand the burden you feel for 'the smile' and and the person who can't lay it down. And if I recall correctly you are also (as I am) working or volunteering at a centre, so it is likely your heart will be burdened again.

I'm trying to just love them, encourage them and plant that seed. I'm praying for them and hoping they will see the light of Jesus in my eyes.

But it's hard to grow attached to people and then lose them back to the grip of addiction. I don't know if that will ever stop hurting.