Addiction is known as the disease of our time. It is one of the most destructive, soul destroying maladies in the entire spectrum of human existence. Its dynamics are indisputably recognized among the more than 30 million people in the United States who suffer from chemical dependencies. Yet there are millions more suffering less offensive, more culturally acceptable addictions: food, sex, work, gambling, internet surfing and social media obsessions, to name just a few. Because of the stigma attached to addiction, many refuse to recognize they have a problem. When we look at it altogether, there is no avoiding the conclusion that, we as a society are damaged. In our compulsion for escapism, we resort to a myriad of unhealthy coping mechanisms and unproductive behaviors.
In a conversation she had with well-known addiction specialist, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Oprah stated “everyone is suffering from something.” They agreed that “until spirituality is a component, one can never truly heal or overcome.” In his classic work, Addiction and Grace, psychiatrist Gerald May, stated that through his work and experiences, he became convinced that every human is addicted to some variety of substances, behaviors and thought patterns. He also concluded that addiction, at its root, is a spiritual issue.
For me, addiction was idol worship in the most fundamental sense of the term – turning to something other than God to do for me what only God can do. My journey of healing from addiction could not begin until I surrendered, which allowed God’s grace to intervene. Grace is the most powerful force in the universe. It’s the place where hope resides. A force which mysteriously transcends everything else, and often arrives at seemingly the most undeserving moment – as it did for me.