Have you ever felt stuck in a situation that seems impossible to escape from? Maybe you’ve been battling addiction for years, and it feels like there’s no way out. You’ve tried to break free, but every time you think you’re making progress, something pulls you back in. The truth is, chains are still chains, no matter how comfortable they are.
At some point, we might even start to get used to those chains, like they’re just a part of life. But deep down, we know they’re holding us back from the freedom we desperately need. Addiction, whether it’s to substances, unhealthy habits, or even toxic thoughts, might feel familiar or even comforting because it’s what we know. But God didn’t create us to live this way. There’s more for us—a life of freedom and abundance. And while it might seem hopeless now, you’re not alone in your struggle. Let’s explore why those chains, no matter how comfortable, aren’t meant to be worn forever.
The Temptation to Accept Addiction
When you’ve been struggling with addiction for years, it’s easy to start thinking that maybe this is just your life. You tell yourself, “I’ve tried everything, and nothing works. Maybe I should just accept it.” There’s a temptation to surrender not to freedom but to the chains, to grow numb to the pain and tell yourself this is just how things are.
But if you’re reading this, something inside you knows there’s more. Even when you’re tempted to just give in, a small part of you is fighting back, longing for freedom. That small part knows that God has promised you a life beyond this. It’s easy to settle into the addiction, to let the chains become your comfort zone. But remember, no matter how familiar those chains feel, they’re still holding you captive.
Comparison is a Trap
It’s tough when you see others who struggled with the same thing you’re going through, but they’ve managed to overcome it. Instead of feeling encouraged, you might feel worse. It’s like a constant reminder that you’re still stuck. I found myself thinking, What’s wrong with me? Why was I still struggling while they had moved on and found freedom?
The worst part was that I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. I was afraid of being judged. Every relapse felt like I was losing another piece of myself, like my soul was slowly being chipped away. With every failure, the shame grew heavier. I started thinking that maybe I was just broken. Maybe there was something inherently wrong with me that made freedom impossible.
But then I remembered something powerful: we all have different paths. Just because someone else seems to have overcome doesn’t mean your story is any less valid. Your journey might take longer, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get there. God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels like you’re the only one left struggling. Comparison is a trap that can lead to despair, but God’s promise is that you can overcome too, in your own time and in your own way.
No One Is Coming to Save You—Or So I Thought
I used to think no one was coming to save me. That I was in this battle alone. But the truth is, someone already came. Jesus came and died for me so that I might have life—an abundant life. And let’s be clear: a life of addiction is not abundant life. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
It was a reminder that even when I felt completely alone, I wasn’t. The enemy loves to make us believe that we’re isolated, that no one understands, and that we’re beyond help. But the truth is, Jesus came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18). He died for you and me, knowing that we would have these struggles. And He wants you to be free.
Chains Are Still Chains
When you’re battling addiction, it’s easy to let yourself become numb, to get used to the chains and say, “This is just how life is.” But God wants so much more for you. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God’s plan for your life isn’t to stay in those chains. His desire is for you to prosper and live freely in His grace. So even if those chains feel familiar, even if they’ve become part of your identity, don’t be fooled—chains are still chains, no matter how comfortable they are.
The Fight Isn’t Over
There might be moments when you feel like giving up. You might think, Why bother trying when I keep failing? But if you ever find yourself at the edge of giving up, remember this: you’re not fighting alone. God is with you in every step, in every battle. Even when it feels like everyone else has it all together, and you’re the only one struggling, God sees you. And He’s coming after you, just like the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one who’s lost (Luke 15:4).
You are that one. And God’s heart is for you to come back, not for you to give up.
Surrender Doesn’t Mean Giving Up
When we talk about surrendering to God, it doesn’t mean we stop putting in the effort to be free. It means we balance grit with faith. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26), so yes, we have to trust God to deliver us, but we also need to make sacrifices along the way.
There are things you’ll need to let go of. Places you used to go, things you used to watch, people you used to hang out with—some of those things will need to change for you to walk in freedom. It’s not easy, and it won’t happen overnight, but every step you take toward freedom is worth it.
God promises in Revelation 2:7, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Victory is promised to those who persevere. It might take time, and there will be setbacks, but God is with you through it all.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
At the end of the day, your focus needs to shift. If you keep looking at your chains, they’ll seem impossible to break. But if you fix your eyes on Jesus, who broke every chain when He rose from the dead, you’ll start to see the possibility of freedom. He is the one who sets us free, and “if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36).
Chains are still chains, no matter how comfortable they seem. But the good news is, they’re not unbreakable. Keep fighting, keep trusting, and never forget that the One who loves you most is walking with you every step of the way. Your chains can be broken, and you can be free. It might take time, but with grit, faith, and God’s grace, freedom is on the horizon.
