Addiction… What An Injustice
This morning I received an email from a colleague informing me that a mutual client had passed over the weekend. This client was a guy I've known since shortly after I started my work with the Salvation Army here in the Comox Valley. Many times in our relationship we spoke of life, the struggles of addiction, and the desire to be free. Through out this mans life addiction cost him dearly. He had lost jobs, money, possessions, dignity, relationship with both friends and family, and ultimately His true identity as God intended it. In the end addiction stole his very life.
Since I received the email, my heart has been sad. I am moved not only by the loss of a friend (troubled as he was), but by the injustice of it all. It's like the enemy literally had him by the throat, and wouldn't let go. Many times we talked about God, and I know He found great peace in prayer and in Christian community when he was able to attend local services. He also worked with many of us to get to multiple treatment facilities over the years, but time and again found himself unable to secure freedom.
The following scripture takes on new meaning in light of this morning:
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. I Peter 5.8-9
On a daily basis I talk with men and women about their lives, decisions, and direction. We work to find housing, physical and mental medical attention, addictions support, financial means, and the list goes on. Often I realize (and from time to time point out) that the issues facing them are a matter of life or death (both physically and spiritually.) Though I often speak these words of caution, it is always difficult and somewhat shocking when those words are met with reality in someones life.
Writing this, I can't help but turn these musings around in an introspective way. To realize that in many ways I fight with addiction, temptation, and the presence of the devil in my own life. Time and again I fail to 'secure freedom' and too easily forget that the Devil "looks to devour" me. The honesty of it all is that the Devil isn't taking His agenda lightly. He plays to win, and His methods are the epitome of injustice.
I'm not able to draw a ton of conclusions from all this today, because it's hard to reconcile moments when God's kingdom is so clearly 'now, but not yet'. However, in the tension of it all, I am sure of this: We desperately need a Saviour. Jesus, needs to be our Lord and our salvation. To that end, we must be people of deep prayer. Only in prayer are we able to 'Stay Alert, Stand Firm, and Be Strong' in the face of our addictions, temptation, and personal weakness.
I will miss Jeff. He was a very cool guy and I was blessed by His journey more than once. The painful part is I know that He could be free, but we never got to see that. May the God, who was His deepest source of peace and strength, have your undivided attention today. May the freedom that only He can give be yours. (I'm pretty sure Jeff would say a big AMEN to that prayer.)
May 19th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Good Morning Son…… First…..I am so sorry for your loss of dear Jeff. My heart weeps with yours…in fact, so do my eyes. I feel sad with you. I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you. In some ways I relate from being in ministry……"you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." That is the work of the Holy Spirit…..in the lives of others and in ours. Only God…..yes ONLY GOD….can change a heart. We can love and encourage, speak truth and point people to Him….but we have to leave the heart surgery to Him. Yet……sometimes I struggle so with this entire "addiction thing." It does seem SO unfair and SO unjust. Does anyone really understand addiction? Is it just about lies we buy into? Perhaps it's a combination of that and the devil's deception and throat hold……your sharing of I Peter 5:8-9 is so applicable Chad. In our North American self sufficiency we aren't sobered enough by that verse. It is good to meditate on the reality and seriousness of it. You can't take on an enemy if you ignore he is even there….or if you belittle him and his subtle ability to poke and prod us….and stir the pot. At the same time my heart hides Philippians 4:13 ""for I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." I think part of the devil's lie is that that verse somehow isn't enough.Another big lie is that it's too complicated, too hard, out of reach, not applicable to me (everyone else but not me) when really it boils down to "simple" obedience. (doable, attainable, possible, personal and available…….in and through Christ Jesus.) And as we are sobered by the truth that the enemy is very real and great I also rejoice in I John 4:4 because God is GREATER…..(I have to ask myself again today….do I believe that?) The entire chapter of I John 4 so ministers to me today…..how very much God loves us…..and that for those of us that have accepted the gift of salvation through Jesus and his payment for our sins on the cross of Calvary….that we have HIM living inside of us. "HE" is our righteousness. Wow. Do I walk in that? Appreciate that? Apply that? I John 5:3-5 "Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn't difficult. For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." That really speaks to my deepest parts today. We ALL have some degree or area of struggle like Jeff had. Do I believe that Christ can and wants to be "my victory" in the things that bind me? Time for prayer……..and maybe as important time for simple obedience. (I'm talking personally here) I love you so much Chad……cling to Galatians 6:9 and I truly pray that verse over you today….."God help Chad not to get tired of doing what is "good" Help him not to get discouraged and give up, and remind him in his deepest places that he WILL reap a harvest of blessings in due time. Bless his obedience today to be "your worker" in the fields that are ripe for picking…..be his strength…..help him to see each stalk of grain the way that you do….continue to give him your heart for people (even deepen it)..and as he pours out in faith and perhaps inspite of how he feels I pray you will be faithful to pour back into him EVERYTHING he has need of. Please be his comfort today as he grieves Jeff's loss…..commune with him as he processes his grief. Carry him today Lord. Thank you for my son Lord……bless and keep him…… fully." Amen I am so proud of you Chad and my prayers cover you daily. Much Love Mom
May 25th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Amen to that Chad. I'm always blessed by your honesty and open heart. May God give you peace as you continue to minister to others with the truth that you have received. We love you both – Auntie Cheryl & Uncle Dale