It’s NOT your fault.

Many times during our loved one’s addiction, the enemy causes us to tell lies about ourselves––if I was a better parent, spouse, friend, grandparent, etc., then he/she wouldn’t have this problem. If I would have done this or that, then he/she wouldn’t have this problem. If, if, if, if. We must not allow the enemy to win.

The truth is you didn’t cause your loved one to be addicted to drugs or alcohol. Addiction does not discriminate. Addiction doesn’t care about anyone’s family history or upbringing; it doesn’t care about anyone’s economic status or genetic makeup. It will go after anyone AND everyone.

There is nothing you did as a parent, grandparent, sibling, or spouse to make your loved one an addict. I used to think that if I was a better wife and kept everything perfect in our house, my husband wouldn’t drink. But the truth is, I am not God. I do not have that much power over anyone and neither do you. My husband is an alcoholic, but not because I am his wife. It was truly freeing when I came to that realization that my husband would be an alcoholic no matter if I was or was not his wife. It’s not MY fault.

And you know what? It's NOT your fault either. Remember the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants our families to be broken. But God wants us to have life to the fullest. Don’t allow the enemy to win. Our God is bigger and more powerful.

Today’s Challenge:

Repeat this to yourself until you believe it. “It’s NOT my fault.” Say it, scream it, believe it. Ask God to show you the truth and for the enemy to stop speaking lies to you about your loved one’s addiction. 

“For the first time in years, I truly believe my son’s addiction is not my fault." Billy (father of an addict)