I like a quote by Samuel Johnson: the change of habits is too weak to be felt until they’re too strong to be broken. The question is: do I need to break them, which would seem impossible, or would it be best to find the right keys to unlock the lock that keeps the chains in place? Believe it or not, one of the keys is having faith that you can change. Most people will never break free from habits or addictions until they genuinely believe and are convinced that change is possible. 

Addiction is like a prison. The Apostle Paul, whilst imprisoned, expressed that he was persuaded. This indicates that addiction is not just about the substance. It’s about finding freedom within, even when you feel trapped. 

Many people in recovery don’t recognise this because they’re waiting for a magical moment when everything disappears. The truth is, it doesn’t happen, and sometimes that’s a liberating realisation to embrace. 

The word ‘persuaded’ is key in many ways. For example, are you persuaded that your life is worse off for keeping the addiction, or are you not persuaded yet? Maybe that’s the defining factor as to why you’re not giving up or unable to give up.

In 2 Timothy 1:12, Greek scholar Rick Renner explains that the Greek word peíthō refers to self-talk or speaking oneself into a position of faith. This is significant because willpower alone isn’t strong enough to overcome the cravings and urges that arise during temptation. However, with persuasive self-talk and by speaking the truth to oneself, there’s hope.  

I encourage people to focus on recovery rather than just abstinence. Many individuals are struggling today because they believe that abstinence is the same as recovery. My conclusion is that by doing the deep work, you’ll achieve the right results.