That Makes Sense: A Gentle Reflection on the Origins of Addiction, How to Understand It, and How to Offer Yourself GraceSample

Clinically, it makes sense why addiction can happen in our lives. We avoid the difficult parts of ourselves. We try to outrun them. Control them. Ignore them. Get rid of them.

But what if our bodies are doing exactly what they were designed to do? What if God knew exactly what he was doing when he created our nervous systems? We carry pain and we were designed to hold memories. Sometimes, those things lead us to develop coping habits because we can’t face the scary stuff alone. What addiction is really doing is telling us an unresolved story.

Another thing about addiction is that it thrives in secrecy and shame. Do you feel ashamed when you consider parts of your life? Maybe you work overtime to hide them from people you care about? That’s often addiction at work. Addiction might enjoy the shadows, but it lessens its grip on us when we experience safe connection with others. Healing begins in the light. When we bring our story into connection with God, and in safe relationships with other people, what once felt unbearable becomes survivable in the presence of love. Through God’s presence, and the care of a wise therapist or pastor, we can gently find connection with the part of us that turns to addiction for comfort. Instead of shaming it, we can learn to follow it with compassion, trusting that it’s trying to soothe something deeper. And when that hidden place or wound is brought into the healing presence of Jesus, it no longer has to carry the pain alone. The addiction part can finally rest. It no longer needs to protect us, because love is now the one doing the holding.

Our bodies are not meant to be feared, but are something God made and gave to us. Yesterday, we told you we partnered with Chrissie Steyn, licensed mental health professional, and she shared this insight:

I practice within the framework of Internal Family Systems (IFS), a compassionate, evidence-based approach to healing. We don’t fight against parts of our nervous system—because that fight rarely works. For most people, it’s just not sustainable. Instead, healing unfolds through connection: approaching each part with curiosity and compassion.

When we see ourselves this way, even something like addiction begins to look different. It’s not your enemy—it’s a younger part of you doing its best to cope. What it needs is care, not punishment. Acceptance, not judgment. Freedom, not management.

Every time our addiction part can share its story without us having an agenda, it gets a little easier to meet that part with love and empathy. The more we understand its purpose, the less scary it becomes to embrace the part of us that reaches for comfort.

To love and embrace ourselves isn’t just good psychology—it’s biblical. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Maybe this verse isn’t just a call to love others more, but an invitation to love ourselves in the way God always intended.

Addiction is not a failure of willpower. As Johann Hari wisely said, “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety, it’s connection.” Too many people in this world look put together and perfectly happy, while inside they’re feeling lost and alone. This is where the power of the Holy Spirit meets us—not to shame us, but to join us in the healing work of connection. Through His divine love and care, we are invited to build a relationship with every part of us.

Join us tomorrow as we consider our response to addiction, and follow the prompts below to reflect and pray.

Reflection: Think about what you usually turn to when you’re overwhelmed or stressed? Can you notice the behaviors without judgement? Ask: What might my addiction be protecting me from today? If you can, maybe even thank your body for striving to care for the overwhelm you experienced in the past.

Prayer: God, thank you that you love me… every part of me. Reveal to me how the Holy Spirit might want to meet me in this part of my story. Help me to look at addiction with Your compassion. Remind me that I have the power of the living God in my soul. It’s in Your name we pray, amen.