This is something which I have wanted to write about, and to not write about in equal measure.
I have just been reminded of it again… So I’ll give it a try at putting something down on paper (or on the screen).
I don’t have a lot of experience in this matter, thankfully. But I can remember a time, when a particular computer game, took too much of my time.
I’m not going to give any details of which game it was, but it was a form of escapism for me at the time.
I was generally unhappy and struggling with life in general, and to be able to plug into something which would remove me from my reality (which I didn’t like) was very appealing, but not too helpful.
I was a believer at the time (and still am), and as such, kind of knew that I should be running to Father for help.
I did go to Father, of a fashion, but the pull of the game was still very strong and subtle.
It was easy to turn the console on and just plug into the game.
It was always available and ready to whisk me off to another word where I could just forget about my reality for a short while. (Or what turned out to be a longer time than it should have been.)
I can remember reaching the point where I began to not like the game.
I might have even started to approach despising the game I sooo longed to play.
But turn it on and plug in was always my desire, which at one point, was my go to place for far too much of my time.
So why did I do it?
Why should I trade a true reality for something which was fake? (Which I knew was fake.)
Why was I so willing do something which I didn’t like?
Why would I do something which I knew, wasn’t going to be helpful to me in the long run?
I think the short answer is, that I was in pain.
I was unhappy and wanted anything to dull the pain.
Thankfully the thing I went to, was just the game and not anything else that could have been so much worse.
There are many things that people can go to to dull the pain which could have been more difficult to turn away from. So I do thank God, that my thing I went to was just a minor escapism. (It didn’t feel too minor at the time though.)
I can remember reaching a time when I did have enough of the game.
But I couldn’t just stop playing it.
As much as I loathed it, I still played it.
I believe it was because I felt that I had nothing else that would dull the pain I was feeling.
Is this one small aspect of what it is to be addicted to something?
Not wanting it, but still picking it up anyway?
Knowing that it is doing you no good, but not seeing any other way of doing anything, other than the thing you don’t want to?
I think that one of the turning points for me was recognising where I was, and then wanting for things to change. And then trying to make change happen. (Not an easy task if you are in a bad place.)
So, how did I make the change happen?
I spoke to my Heavenly Father. (I was always speaking to Him on some level really.)
I asked Him to give me something else that would be more real to me and better for me.
I asked for Him to be more real to me.
I asked Him if I could plug into Him instead of the game in a meaningful way, so that I wouldn’t want to play the game any longer.
short summary, I reconised that I wanted things to change, I asked for help and I endeavoured to look for something better, rather than my go to not so helpful thing.
Well, I have managed to type something down.
But who could this be for?
If you are caught in something which you don’t like, then perhaps this could help you???
Instead of focusing on what you don’t want to do, you could try looking for something else that is better and will be better for you.
I once heard someone say, “Instead of using the brakes to avoid something, you could always use the steering wheel.”
Handing what you don’t like to God and asking for His help is always going to be good advice.
If you know someone who is caught in some kind of destructive behaviour that they just can’t seem to shake, then could this be for you???
If you do know someone who is just doing something which is no good for themselves, then what could you do?
Try to understand them???
Try to see them as someone who is in pain and not thinking correctly???
Try not to judge them??? (This could be a very tough one to do.)
Try to offer them a life line by offering a better alternative???
My best advice would always be to seek your Heavenly Father who knows ALL that is going on. Seek His wisdom for what the best option to do is. Endeavour to hear His words to you, and then follow them.
Father,
I’ve had a go at writing this.
I offer it up to You.
Please do with it whatever You want to.
If there is someone who You want to read it, then please lead them to it.
If You want to keep people away from this, then please let this be lost in the desert of posts out there.
For all who are suffering, I ask that You will be real to them in a meaningful way so that they can know a release, that You can bring to them.
You are Lord God Almighty, and You Do know All things and are there to help and guide all who call on You.
Amen.
Wannabe Christian Doorman 