I have never struggled with an addiction, but I have watched friends and family members struggle with addictions. I have seen Satan come in and use something to separate people form the love that God has for them. From what I have always seen is an addiction is hard to beat and at times can become so difficult and consuming that you are in a haze or under some sort of bubble where you can’t see the love from your daddy clearly. I know it can be a huge battle to kick an addiction and that it takes the strength of the lord to get us to that place.
I went to a rehab center here in Vietnam and as soon as my team and Gary’s team pulled up in the taxis you could just feel a peace. There in the middle of a country that doesn’t openly talk about our daddy or his love for others, was a building that was a Christian rehab center.
Our contacts lead us to this room where about 20men of different ages were waiting for us. We started with forming a circle and worshiping daddy in a way that was full of joy and enthusiasm. The songs were all in their native tongue, so us English speakers didn’t know what was being said but that didn’t matter because the JOY that was in that room could only come from the father. The way these men worshiped was with their whole heart, there were dance moves that of course our teams loved and joined right in. The men have a dance party every time they worship Jesus… and that’s when I asked myself if these men who have struggled with so much can be so happy and free in their worship and their love for the Lord in a country that doesn’t allow it, than they truly have grasped what it means to be a follower of the lord.
photo by: Brianna Danese
After worship a couple of girls from our teams shared testimony’s and encouraged these men of god our brothers in Christ. After that we split into small groups and just listened to the questions, and stories of these men. These were men who knew what it meant to struggle and be consumed by addictions. However these men also knew what it meant to fully rely on their God and to let him be their strength. These men understood the verse that talks about the joy of the lord is our strength.
Now just like us and our walk with the Lord each of these men were at a different point in their Rehab some it was their first day there others had been there for 6 years. However they lived in community and knew that what had been in their past could not define them anymore. They needed Jesus and to follow him without the haze or bubble over them.
At Rehab was when I realized my heart for this people and how much I wanted my friends and family to be free of any and all addictions they faced. We are supposed to live in this world but not be of this world. We are supposed to shine like stars to people we see, so that they may see Jesus in us.
my team(minus Layne) with some of the men
How can we do that if we are living in a haze or bubble?
There are lots of things we can be addicted to and sometimes we don’t even realize we are until someone else tells us they see what we are doing is a problem.
It may be you are addicted or know someone who is addicted to: drugs, alcohol, smoking, food, or gambling. That is not what the Lord has for them. He does meet us where we are at and will stand there with you but wants to see the change in you as well. If you are that person seek support and help you need, because the Lord does love you and wants what is best for you.
If you know someone like that let us remember that no sin is greater than the next and we all look pretty ugly without our daddy. Be there for those people without judgment and most importantly pray for them.
There is Freedom in the Lord for all things!
Daddy I thank you for all you do in our lives and the way you meet us right where we are. I ask that you touch our hearts and help us to see what is putting us in a haze or bubble over us that we can’t see you clearly. Open our eyes to things we need to change in our lives. Help us to let go of things that we have become addicted to and help us to be there for people who need love through those times. You are a daddy of love and you are not going to make us do anything we don’t want to do. Thank you daddy for giving us choices and being there for us at all times. I’m so thankful that you never leave us or forsake us.
Jesus name,
Amen.
