Addiction as Identity

80-89 (Eighties) Female

"God gave me this addiction to keep me humble and dependent on Him."

LIE: God gave this for humility. TRUTH: The thief steals; Jesus gives ABUNDANT LIFE. (John 10:10)

See Truth John 10:10

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"I need to make amends to everyone I hurt before I can move forward."

LIE: I must make amends first. TRUTH: God forgave ALL trespasses at the cross. (Col 2:13-14)

See Truth Colossians 2:13-14

70-79 (Seventies) Male

"I wasted the best years of my life. It's too late to recover what I lost to addiction."

LIE: I wasted my best years. TRUTH: You'll bear fruit in old age, fresh and flourishing. (Ps 92:14)

See Truth Psalm 92:14

13-15 (Early Teen) Female

"I'm an addict—that's just who I am now and I'll always be broken."

LIE: I'm an addict forever. TRUTH: You're a NEW CREATION—old identity DIED (2 Cor 5:17).

See Truth 2 Corinthians 5:17

10-12 (Pre-Teen) Female

"God allowed this addiction to teach me something I needed to learn"

LIE: God gave addiction to teach me. TRUTH: THIEF steals/kills/destroys; Jesus gives abundant LIFE (Jn 10:10). God autho...

See Truth John 10:10

40-49 (Forties) Female

"I have to earn people's trust back through years of good behavior."

LIE: Earn trust through perfect behavior. TRUTH: Saved by GRACE, not works (Eph 2:8-9). God's acceptance is GIFT, not tr...

See Truth Ephesians 2:8-9

70-79 (Seventies) Male

"I'm an alcoholic. That's my identity. I'll always be in recovery, always one drink away from disaste..."

LIE: I'm an addict—that's my identity. TRUTH: You're a new creation; old things passed away. (2 Cor 5:17)

See Truth 2 Corinthians 5:17

70-79 (Seventies) Female

"My grandchildren will inherit my addictive tendencies - I've cursed the next generation genetically."

LIE: I cursed future generations. TRUTH: Christ redeemed us from ALL curses (Gal 3:13)

See Truth Galatians 3:13

80-89 (Eighties) Female

"I'll always be an alcoholic, even if I haven't had a drink in 30 years."

LIE: I'm always an addict. TRUTH: You're a new creation; old things PASSED AWAY. (2 Cor 5:17)

See Truth 2 Corinthians 5:17

25-29 (Late Twenties) Male

"I'm damaged goods - no woman would want me with this history."

LIE: Damaged goods, unworthy. TRUTH: God gives BEAUTY for ashes - you are redeemed. (Isa 61:3)

See Truth Isaiah 61:3

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"I have to guard my heart constantly or I'll fall back into old patterns."

LIE: I must guard constantly. TRUTH: God works in you to will and do. (Phil 2:13)

See Truth Philippians 2:13

70-79 (Seventies) Male

"I'm powerless over this. I'll never have real control. I'm always one slip away from total collapse."

LIE: I'm powerless. TRUTH: You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Phil 4:13)

See Truth Philippians 4:13

50-59 (Fifties) Female

"My brain is permanently damaged—the addiction changed me in ways that can't be undone."

LIE: Brain permanently damaged. TRUTH: I will restore the years the locust ate. Joel 2:25

See Truth Joel 2:25

60-69 (Sixties) Female

"I wasted so many years in addiction. It's too late to have the life I could have had."

LIE: Wasted too many years. TRUTH: God will RESTORE the years the locusts ate (Joel 2:25). You're NEW - it's not too lat...

See Truth Joel 2:25

80-89 (Eighties) Male

"I have a disease I can't cure—this is chronic and lifelong."

LIE: I have an incurable disease. TRUTH: By His stripes you WERE healed. 1 Pet 2:24

See Truth Matthew 8:17

90+ (Nineties Plus) Female

"My addiction defines me more than God's redemption ever could."

LIE: Addiction defines me most. TRUTH: Do not remember former things - God is doing a NEW thing! (Isa 43:18-19)

See Truth Isaiah 43:18-19

30-39 (Thirties) Female

"I've wasted so many years — I'll never make up for lost time."

LIE: I wasted years and I'm behind. TRUTH: God restores the years the locust ate — time redeemed (Joel 2:25).

See Truth Joel 2:25

70-79 (Seventies) Male

"One slip and I'm back to zero. All my progress erased. I'll lose everything I've worked for."

LIE: One slip erases everything. TRUTH: There is NO condemnation for those in Christ. (Rom 8:1)

See Truth Romans 8:1

90+ (Nineties Plus) Male

"I'll always be in recovery. There's no such thing as 'recovered.'"

LIE: Always recovering. TRUTH: The Son makes you FREE INDEED (John 8:36). You're not in process—you're in Christ, comp...

See Truth John 8:36

60-69 (Sixties) Female

"I'll always be an alcoholic. That's just who I am now, even decades sober."

LIE: I'll always be an addict. TRUTH: You're a new creation - old things PASSED AWAY, all things became NEW (2 Cor 5:17)...

See Truth 2 Corinthians 5:17