Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Psalm 119:73, ESV
Ping!
“Hey, someone told me I should reach out to you. My boyfriend is addicted to drugs. He’s overdosed twice this year. I can’t eat or sleep. I’m worried sick. Do you know where we can get some help for him?”
This was one of many messages I’ve received over the years from people who love someone who struggles with addiction. They often find me after hearing me share my personal testimony of living with a struggling addict. My heart goes out to these people because, sadly, there are tons of resources available for their addicted loved ones. But there are only a few places that help the family and friends find support–even fewer that bring Christ into the conversation.
And boy, do we ever need God’s power and the help of others! Loving someone who struggles with addiction is a roller coaster ride. We have to deal with dishonesty, betrayal, anxiety, and more. Usually, the people who love them are some of the most loving and supportive people. However, they are often taken advantage of by their struggling loved ones, especially if they are in active addiction.
Oftentimes, well-intentioned help becomes harmful when dealing with addiction. Sometimes it looks like giving someone money when it may have been better to put a tough boundary in place. Or not allowing a struggling loved one to take part in finding resources and support for themselves. Perhaps it means not taking care of the things we can control, like our thoughts, reactions, and actions, vs. trying to control those of our erratic loved ones.
If you relate to this struggle, these things are often easier said than done. And sometimes, when I share these hard-to-swallow truths with people who reach out, they aren’t ready to hear them. But I can’t give anyone false hope because I have learned, mostly the hard way, that what we need most when dealing with an addicted loved one is to submit to God’s will. As the Psalmist says, we need to…
Read the full devotional at Crosswalk.com.
