Living With the Addicted

By guest writer, Dianna Carroll.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36 ESV

Growing up, I didn’t realize I was living with an addict. My father, whom I loved very much, was a “working alcoholic,” as he was an extremely hard worker even with his addiction. However, any family fight would provide him an excuse to leave home and get drunk. Sometimes, my dad was so intoxicated that he would pass out on our front lawn, causing embarrassment and pain for my mother and me.

Enslavement to drugs or alcohol wreaks havoc in the life of the addict, as well as their family and friends. Many factors can drive a person to addiction: loneliness, estrangement from loved ones, homelessness, job loss, peer pressure, or abuse. A one-time experiment with an addictive substance can lead to a longterm battle. Often enticed by lust for an escape from the harsh realities of life, the addict embraces the seductive lie that drugs or alcohol bring relief.

Although it might sound strange, I am thankful that God allowed me to experience life with an addict. Since I understand their struggles, I can minister to women who are broken and enslaved by addictions.

A True Story

I remember the day Lindsey walked into church pushing a baby stroller, looking distressed and intimidated. She was seeking answers because of a troubled past and an unsettled future. Alcohol and drugs had taken their toll, but she wanted her life back. Her face bore her guilt but also her determination to escape addiction’s bondage.

Soon we developed a friendship, and she grew spiritually. At least, I thought so.

Lindsey eventually celebrated three years of sobriety. However, shortly thereafter, she relapsed and became upset and agitated. She blamed others, including God, for her fall.

When Lindsey agreed to enter a rehab center, her little boy could not accompany her. In response, the church rallied around her and lovingly cared for him while she was away. After six months, she returned but quickly relapsed, this time with a vengeance and with more accusations. Sadly, it is not unusual for an addict to fall multiple times and then condemn or harm those who have supported her.

Pursuing False gods

When individuals remain in a life of addiction, they often ignore their own sin and responsibility. Enticed by personal lusts, addicts pursue various false idols (like drugs or alcohol), convinced they cannot live without a fix. When their hearts are deceived, their eyes become spiritually blinded. Sadly, they seek temporary gratification to relieve stress or to satisfy a pleasurable desire, rather than seeking God.

Temptation Comes from Within

Does God shield us from circumstances that might provoke us to sin? James 1:12-14 says, ‘“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed’” (emphasis added). Any overindulgence can develop into sinful behavior when our desire for it becomes more important than obeying God.

We are daily confronted with temptations, difficulties, and sometimes overwhelming battles. God allows testing in our lives to prove our love and loyalty to Him, or He uses it to cause us to turn to Him in our despair.

The Gospel, Our Only Hope

Women trapped in substance abuse can only find hope in the gospel of the

Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, other paths to overcome addiction exist, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, but without Jesus, it is merely wrapping a bandage around a gaping wound caused by one’s rebellion against a holy God. True spiritual rest and healing for suffering, broken, sinful souls are found only in Jesus: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven [the name of Jesus] given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). He truly is our only hope for lasting change.

Are you living with or know someone suffering from addiction and wondering how you can help? Loving them is essential, even when it’s hard, when it hurts, or when they are unlovable. Introducing them to Jesus for salvation is, of course, the first step in their efforts to begin anew. The next step is to come alongside them, as our church did with Lindsey, the struggling addicted mother, to disciple them in their walk with the Lord. Even when the one we endeavor to help turns against us and the Savior, we must continue to pray for them and entrust them to God.

What Happens When I Fail?

After years of counseling many women who have fallen into Satan’s snare, I see one common denominator: They believe they are far too imperfect and unacceptable for God ever to love or forgive. Self-reproach then dominates their viewpoint, resulting in depression. In this downward spiral, reliance on addictive substances to relieve their consciences only makes guilt feelings stronger. How can anyone attain freedom from the addiction pit or make the shame go away? Many have asked this question.

Perhaps you, too, are secretly struggling with some kind of addiction. What happens when you fail? Are you doomed to struggle in guilt, plummeting into hopelessness? Can you be forgiven by a holy God and experience His mercy? Despite your problems, the same answer remains.

Feelings of shame and guilt do not arise from a holy God. The one way to rid yourself of guilt and shame is by completely trusting in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross for your sins. Believe in Jesus, repent of sin, and trust Him to forgive. Then, by faith, put your confidence in the Lord, not in your knowledge or understanding. Seek those who can come alongside to disciple and help you. Have certainty in Jesus—the Great I AM—the One able to lead you from a path of despair to a place of quiet rest and peace in Him.

Lord, by faith, I will trust in You.

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When Dianna Carroll became a Christian at twenty-one, she felt that God had given her a second chance at life. Later, she served alongside her husband, Glen Moffitt, who pastored Mountain View Baptist Church for several years. In 2000, the Lord called the couple to plant churches in Utah as well as to encourage pastors and missionaries serving there.

Sadly, Glen succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2002 at age forty-nine. Dianna asked herself, “What do I do now?” Life for her family became difficult during that year, but the Lord helped them through every trial. Some years later, Dianna met Jerry, a godly man the Lord sent her way. After marrying in 2005, the couple now serve in leadership and teaching positions.

In 2009, Dianna began ministry at a state facility for women suffering from substance abuse. Every week, she and others taught the Bible, imparting the gospel and supplying incarcerated women with discipleship materials to help them grow in Christ. In addition, Dianna has shared her life’s story at women’s retreats and for various fellowship groups. Currently, she gives readings from her devotional book, Discovering Grace in Despair: Finding Hope in Christ When All Hope Seems Gone, on Key Radio, a local Christian station. Readers can follow Dianna on her weekly blog at www.diannasdiary.com.