Are You Addicted
Aug 28, 2022I’ve had this post as a draft for about a month now. I’ve been praying about it and hoping what I share helps someone find freedom.
I remember the first time I admitted my addiction to pornography. It was 4 years and 50 weeks ago. I went over to a friend’s house, thinking my marriage was over, and told him I had battled pornography for 10 years. He asked me if I was addicted…I said no.
Over the next few months, I began to think about the definition of addiction.
For me, an addiction is something that I have promised to quit; said I wouldn’t do anymore; swore I’d never do again; repented of; prayed about; and in the end, given in to.
Because of that definition, pornography was an addition for me.
Did I engage in it everyday? No. Did I engage in it even when I promised myself and God I wouldn’t? Yes.
I don’t find a lot of people talking about addiction in the Church. It is a word that seems to have a leprous conotation to it.
Some people are addicted to gambling; some are addicted to food; some are addicted to alchohol; some are addicted to social media; some are addicted to the approval of others; some are addicted to achievement; some are addicted to losing their temper; some are addicted to lying; some are addicted to drugs; some are addicted to pornography.
All of us that struggle with addictions leave ourselves in bondage by refusing to admit it and seeking help for it.
For years I didn’t want to admit I had an addiction. For years addiction gripped my heart.
I’m not saying that by admitting you have an addiction that will automatically free you from it.
But I am saying not admitting it will only leave you a prisoner to it.
It is a humbling thing to admit you are addicted to something.
It’s true…you have a lot to lose by admitting your addiction. More true: You will lose it all by hiding it.
