Home of the 15th STB UMT

Addictive behaviors manifest in many forms. From substance abuse to gambling, addictive behaviors remove the ability to prioritize life in a healthy manner. Addictions cross the line from controlled use to uncontrolled use which can trade in family and friends, values and character, dreams and hopes and possibly health to satisfy the desire to use the substance or play one more game. The abused substance or action does not enhance life, but rather, detracts from it. The goal of this page is not to condemn people struggling with addiction, but rather, to assist in making steps to a balanced life where the addiction no longer has control.

A former coworker of mine quit smoking again for the third time in six months. Unfortunately, during a period of high stress, she allowed her guard to drop and restarted the habit. She is not alone in the ups and downs of addiction recovery, people struggle with addictions on a daily basis. Common is the theme to "try harder next time." However, addictions rarely give the option of complete recovery without external assistance or intervention. Expecting to recover alone may be aiming for the near impossible. Admittedly, there are those who quit without assistance, but more often, recovery welcomes those who admit the need of intervention.

In some counseling circles, the goal is to treat the symptoms and hope the individual feels better or operates better in society. However with a Christian perspective, the counselor's priorities are to draw the individual into a holistic relationship to God. The key therefore, is to work on the issues behind the symptoms without ignoring the spiritual aspect of the individual. The goal for counseling must also translate to the individual, because the counselor can not force recovery.

What then is the reason to quit the addictive behavior? To maintain a better quality of life? Is it because the Bible says, "Do not be drunk in anything other than the Spirit?" Perhaps there is an addiction to illegal activity, and this is not a good example. Maybe no reason in particular, there is just the desire to quit. While these reasons and others can help in recovery, one reason must be primary. Addictions trust something other than God for personal fulfillment which negates the purpose of God's sacrifice to have relationship with us. Therefore, the primary reason to break free from the bondages of addiction is to allow God to be sovereign over all parts of life, trusting in divine provision to meet every need.

Using Multiple avenues of recovery makes it more possible to come out from addiction. Counseling, therapy, and support groups work, but God gives the ability to quit. Any other method which relies on personal strength and ambition can more easily falter. Although people fail or give up temporarily, God doesn't turn away those who seek strength to recover from addictions and to prioritize life in a more scripturally sound manner. There is hope for addiction recovery.