Addictions

Someone asked me if I believe God can overcome various addictions that people have. I have never personally had any kind of addiction, but can cite a couple of cases. As I mentioned in my book, I once hired a man who had a smoking habit, and I told him that before he could work for me as a maintenance man on the camp I was operating, he would have to stop smoking. He readily agreed, stating that it had long been his wish to do so. We prayed about it then and there, and he said his addiction left him immediately. He never had the desire for nicotine again, in fact, could not stand the smell of cigarettes after that.

Another case involved my father. Long a smoker, he would go through a couple packs a day. As he aged, he developed emphysema. Many times he tried to quit, but developed severe shaking fits each time he denied himself the drug. He did manage to cut back to less than a pack a day. Finally, I prayed with him that God would heal this addiction (it's actually the one and only time I ever prayed with him, long story). Within two weeks, Dad passed away on the surgeon's table after bypass surgery. The surgery was successful, but due to his damaged lungs, he couldn't purge the CO2 from his body and literally was asphyxiated. Was he healed? Well, he died. But, with the certainty of his arrival in heaven, I know the addiction was forever cured.

If you personally have an addiction, or have family or friends dealing with any type, do you not believe that Jesus can take that away? Faith must be employed. Take the addiction to Christ and let Him deal with it. He will. One way or another.