Scars of Addiction

Many of us have already learned – healing from addictive behavior can take lots of time and hard work.  In the past I did not understand why God does not heal us in an instant.  To be free would be a great feeling – I would think?  Maybe, in my experience I have grown to appreciate the lack of instant healing.  If I had been healed instantly, and would have been given instant freedom, I believe my first stop or tendency would have been straight back into the bondage of addiction.  I have come to believe God is after something much deeper in me than just freedom from my addiction.  There is a primary contributor to my future work for Him that is being molded and sharpened as a result of my experience.  This addiction or “Thorn in my flesh,” if you will, only serves to keep me in check and humbled.  Do not hear me saying, I want to keep this Thorn.  Thorns can be painful. 

When I was about ten, I was crawling around in the rafters of my grandfather’s “car-shed.”  I heard the screen door open and became concerned I would get caught.  In my attempt to escape punishment – for I knew the rules – I scrambled to get to my makeshift ladder.  As I climbed down the ladder, I drove a large splinter deep into my right-hand, ring finger.  I was in deep pain, but could not tell anyone.  I knew they would want to know how it happened.  You can quickly deduce the results of that brilliant decision.  Because I figured I could take care of the splinter myself, I kept quiet.  After a few days the pain became unbearable.  I went to my mom and spilled.  She was not the least bit concerned about how I had acquired the splinter; she was much more concerned about ridding me of the splinter.  The pain I was experiencing was affecting every aspect of my being.  To this day, I have a small scar between my first and second knuckle on the underside of my right-hand, ring finger.  As I have thought back to that experience, there are a few life lessons we can all learn. 

If you do not face your addiction, it will affect every aspect of your being.  Just like my mom, God is more interested in helping you get rid of the problem than beating you up for the choices that got you there.  That is not to say what got you there is not important, but just Not His primary concern.  If we continue to ignore reality, the discomfort will become who we are.  The addiction will literally become your identity.  Do not allow the enemy to steal your identity to addiction.

I encourage you to seek help.  Do not allow anything to have that much power in your life.  God wants to free you from this prison of guilt and shame.  He wants to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.  (1) First pray and ask for the courage to bring your issue into the light.  (2) Find someone you can be honest, who is more concerned with restoration than exposure.  (3) Share how these addictive choices have affected your life.  (4) Go with that person to a place that specializes in your form of addiction.  (Note) Stop at nothing to get the answers you need.  Just so you know – there will always be a scar.  I have one on my finger and in my heart.  The scar does not bring back memories of all the bad parts of my experience – it serves as a gentle reminder of what is now a fond memory of the unconditional love and Grace of the Father.

Pastor Keith Devine