Do you have a loved one who is struggling with the stronghold of addiction? Have you found yourself losing hope?
If so, then I’m writing this especially for you to encourage you. There IS hope for complete deliverance! I’m a witness for the Lord—because of Him, I stand before you whole. (Acts 4:10)
Do you ever wonder what is going on in your loved one's heart?
If we were to sit down together and talk, I’d want to show you these two pages from my journals…
This was written while still in my addiction:
April 14, 2006
Dear Lord,
I am so sorry and unworthy to try to pray to you. Even now I have taken some pills to get rid of my sorrow. I sinned against you by drinking again. I know being under the influence of pills must have left my defenses down. Will you please forgive me again?
I know I needed to become closer to You. Make you really Lord over my life. It’s not too late as long as I am still alive. I want to thank you, Lord, for Your mercy and grace and forgiveness. I’ve let so many people down again. That is the hardest part, because I know You know my heart. But they can never understand why I keep drinking. Am I really two different people? I know the Bible says even after we are saved we still battle the old flesh and mind.
Easter is coming up and I want to be in church. Lord, will you be Lord over every area of my life? By Your power drive the self-pride and other sins from me. Oh how I want to turn my life around and relieve my loved ones of the burden I have been to them. Will you prepare their hearts for me to be trusted again?
While in my addiction, I knew my loved ones couldn’t understand how I could be okay for a while—and then fall back into my addiction over and over again.
They began to believe I was lying to them when I said I was sorry. I would have given anything for them to have known my heart and how I really did want to stop.
This one was written four years later:
October 20, 2010
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
The word “deceived” means tricked into believing something that isn’t true. When I used to drink, I believed that I was getting a temporary escape and relief from my fears. I believed for that little while I was a more likeable person to others. I believed I could say or do anything I wanted for that little while because I had no fear.
I was DECEIVED.
There was always the “morning after” when I paid “my penance” and fears came back with a vengeance. My suffering, both physically and emotionally, was severe—but the saddest result was my spiritual condition from the chastisement of the Holy Spirit. Because I was saved, I would always pray and ask God to forgive me and vow to never do it again.
Then once again I would “be a good girl” in my own power until the fears and loneliness built up again, causing me to seek relief “just for a little while.”
I realize now that the reason the cycle continued was because although I repented each time, I didn’t know how to walk with the Lord and draw my strength from Him. My fears and loneliness were never met with the faith and fellowship of Jesus.
One day I finally
understood what I
needed was
not to
“know about Jesus”
but to
“know Jesus.”
My great need was not to follow rules, but to have a relationship with Him! That relationship required discipleship…continuing in God’s Word:
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.
”
You will know Jesus…
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
If you have a loved one struggling with addiction, you might be about to give up hope.
Can I just share something with you?
Their failure to stop hurting themselves and those who love them is ultimately the result of their being deceived, like I was.
If they are saved, then the Lord will not give up on them. No man can pluck them out of His hand. They will know His chastisement, while He is at this moment in the process of delivering them.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
If they aren’t yet saved, then God wants to save them.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
But what can you do for them until then? Keep praying! I know that the prayers of my loved ones made all the difference for me.
Lift the addicted up to the Lord, praying for Him to protect them until He gives them the gift of repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
The following verses are a powerful picture of how to help the addicted, and God’s answer for deliverance from addiction:
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
”
Remember you are God’s servant as you interact with the addicted. Speak truth in love, without thoughts of return.
God promises
His word will
not return void.
My loved ones tried so many times to reason with me! They did give me Scripture to try and help me. I’m sure they felt like I wasn’t listening or getting it, but God’s word was still being planted in my heart.
Don’t feel
that it’s useless
to speak truth.
God will use it
in His timing.
Your meekness is necessary. It’s not you that is their enemy.
Verse 25 explains what’s really going on:
The addicted
“oppose themselves.”
Their own heart knows this is true. The addicted become their own worst enemy.
why?
because they
are deceived.
They need to “recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
In verse 25, God explains how:
“if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
I’m so thankful to God and praise Him for giving me that gift of repentance!
I had to acknowledge the truth about my addiction and find my identity in Christ.
God can give your loved one the gift of repentance too.
It took another nine months after God gave me repentance before I was completely surrendered and ready to get the help I needed. I went to the Reformers Unanimous Discipleship School in Rockford, Illinois. There I was taught how to have a daily personal relationship with the Lord by continuing in His Word.
As you continue praying for your loved one’s deliverance, trust in God’s power. Remember that repentance to the acknowledging of the truth is the gift of God.
You can trust God
to do for them
what you can’t
do for them.
They can’t even
do it for
themselves!
Trying hard to do better only works for a little while, if at all—but the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to overcome every stronghold!
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
I hope what I’ve shared has been an encouragement to you. Keep praying for your loved one, don’t give up!
I’m going to begin re-posting a series called “Five Truths for Overcoming Addiction”—sharing some things that can help your loved one too. Please feel free to share the posts with them.
You can also visit the RU website for more resources and testimonies of complete deliverance from addiction. Their residential Discipleship program has an 80% success rate!
Finally, if we were sitting here together, I would give you a hug and tell you it’s possible that your loved one will one day thank you for your love and patience and prayers.
Keep drawing comfort and strength from your Lord—He is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we can think or ask! I'd love to hear from you and pray for your loved one. You can email me at julieheathwrites@gmail.com.
