It might be an out and out addiction. Or a habit that’s becoming something more. Either way, it’s got you – and here’s what it whispers… 1. I can’t do it. – Yes you can. But see point 2… 2. I can do it alone. – You can’t – no-one can. 3. It’s gonna be easy. – It may well be the hardest thing you’ve ever done…but also the most worthwhile. Long-term, the alternative is much, much harder. 4. It’s …Read More
1. I’ve been working really hard and I deserve a break. (Sorry, but no. Good on you for working hard; but the thing you want a break from is a life-dominating whirlpool of addiction that will suck you down if you dip your toe in). 2. I can handle it. (You can’t. It’s bigger than you – which is why you need Jesus and other people and all the support you can get). 3. I’ve learned from my mistakes. (Great! So don’t …Read More
Sorry there’s no blog this week – we’re in Keswick, enjoying the lovely lakes! As part of the week I gave a 4 minute testimony, and it’s airing along with a fab sermon (and some rousing hymns) on Radio 4, this Sunday. If you fancy listening, (and even better, praying since it’ll go out to many people), then go here. Thank-you! Share…FacebookTwitterTumblrPinterestGoogle+StumbleUponDiggemail
Sometimes I speak to folks in recovery from different issues. They’ve made incredible progress – but there’s one question they often ask: “I’ve gotten over X” they say, “but now I have Y! Something else has taken its place! What’s wrong with me? Will this ever end?” Swapping one harmful behaviour for another. The anorexia who becomes bulimic. The bulimic who starts to self-harm. The self-harmer who turns to alcohol. The alcoholic who starts abusing painkillers. Here’s how one blog reader puts it: …Read More
In yesterday’s post I wrote about how God works in the small things as well as the big – especially when it comes to recovery. Today a friend emailed me with a beautiful illustration of this process. I’m grateful to her for allowing me to share some of this with you: “Just over two years ago I was admitted to The Priory with anorexia. I was in danger of sudden death… I felt also that a Christian should be immune from mental health problems. I did not realise …Read More
When we’re struggling with health issues, (our own or others), it’s natural to hope for instant and dramatic change. We see it on TV and we read about it in the papers – the coma patient who suddenly wakes up; the woman who throws away her crutches; the cancer sufferer who’s pronounced miraculously healed. These things happen: and praise God for them! But for every instant miracle, there are a hundred slow or partial recoveries. For every leap into the light, there are years of slow and …Read More
A friend of mine – a Christian – is battling a serious eating disorder. She’s in a very hard place: a place that feels hopeless and lonely and frightening. It would be tempting for her to give up: but she’s not. I’m proud of her for fighting and I believe she’ll come through. She’s a very gifted photographer; and when I asked her what helps her keep going; she showed me these – I hope they encourage you too: …Read More
When someone comes to us with pastoral issues we often put them into one of two boxes. 1. Church-box: for spiritual issues and small to medium-sized relational problems. 2. Expert-box: for mental health struggles and big-sized relational problems. The former can be dealt with in-house: with prayer and fellowship, friendship and gospel. The latter needs Professionals. And in between we ask: ‘have you thought about counselling?’ But it’s not quite that simple. Counsellors, especially Christian ones can be hard to …Read More
Yesterday I wrote on the struggles you can face when addictions no longer have their old power. They’re not always the ones you expect. Here’s a great example from ‘A Marriage In Recovery’, published in the Guardian, May 2013 Life after rehab: my husband, the alcoholic: “As I pulled into the sweeping drive of the Priory to collect my husband after he had completed the 28-day recovery for addiction programme, I was elated. We hugged, cried and did all the things that …Read More
I’ve decided that resolutions are actually evil. Not just misguided. Not just a waste of effort. Positively, pulsatingly bad. I don’t say this lightly. I LOVE resolving. Everything in me wants to take charge and improve myself. I grade my days and I grade my life. Lists of stuff I’ve done and stuff I stuffed up. B-. C+. Must. Try. Harder. Drink less coffee. Floss. Be Better. But what does ‘better’ even mean? Better looking? Better feeling? Better compared to …Read More
