But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9

So let’s cut to the chase. What’s the big deal with drinking? And for that matter, even a bit of drug use here and there?

As these things, especially recreational drug use, have become more and more acceptable and widely practiced, why the insistence of abstinence for some?

Well, generally speaking, I’m an advocate for them. They make you feel good, take the edge off, encourage social interaction, and are fun in moderation.

It’s not the existence of these things that are bad, but the misuse.

We distort their good purpose when our own desires drive us toward more. More is the problem. Desensitization is the problem. Focus is the problem.

All these things are spurs off the same self-centered trail. Not that it always starts off that way, either. But when it becomes an issue, it’s because we’ve begun to seek after a remedy to a core issue rather than a salve to a surface situation.

And the litmus test is this—if when I want to stop I can’t, or if when I start, I have little or no control over how much I’m using, there’s a good chance I have a problem that needs arresting.

We can thank AA literature for that one, but scripture points us repeatedly to the same spiritual principle: we need His power to move past our affliction.

We’ve all got a vacancy that we are trying to fill up. The alcoholic or addict has a potentially very public one. This is a blessing in that it amplifies the need for a solution.

God, give me the courage to let you help.