Chain-breaker.

Did you know the National Institutes of Health have confirmed research stating quitting cigarettes is harder than quitting heroin.

Quitting smoking is considered harder than quitting any other substance/drug. 

 "Of all the substances known nicotine is considered the hardest to quit. Studies have shown that approximately 70-90% of smokers express a desire to quit but only a mere 3-5% are successful in doing so without assistance."-elev8centers.com 

But, God. 

I was a closet smoker for almost 18 years ...started as a "oh I need to de-stress", everyone around me was doing it, just a no big deal thing in college...that quickly turned into a shame covered, vicious, guilt-filled cycle and suddenly a full blown addiction. An addiction that I hid away from most people. Far too ashamed to do so in public, I kept it under lock and key to run to during "hard times" until it quickly took over and became a need all of the time.

The anxiety that was birthed out of this lifestyle all but took over me...it ran my life, to the point where every decision I made was based on if I would be willing to fit it in somehow...

Before I knew it I had become wrapped up in the chains of nicotine, and completely engulfed in the bondage that came along with it.

But, God.

Fast forward to 2022 as I was developing a relationship with the Lord, something prior to 2020 I never knew I could even have...He began speaking to me about trusting Him. He never once condemned me and never once shamed me, only confirmed His love for me. He began healing me in so many areas of my life, speaking His life to me. He drew me to His word. His living, breathing, active, sharper than any twoedged sword, word, and it began to wake me.

Hebrews 4:12

He began to remove scales off of my eyes and shake the chains that consumed me. 

Then one day in pure love, kindness and patience He simply said, "trust me".

He held me, He loved me and He showed me my worth. He patiently healed me while completely severing every chain of bondage the grip of nicotine had on me. From that point on it wasn't about guilt or fear, it was about pleasing the Father. I began to learn how my body was a temple and how Holy Spirit was truly within me, I wanted to please my abba. It is by Him alone that chains were broken and freedom came so freely.

Almost 3 years later I can tell you boldly and confidently that He truly is the chain breaker.

That with Him all bondages can be destroyed and that you can fully and completely trust Him with every ounce of your being. Don't just take my word for it, I encourage you to find out for yourself. Everything in the world will try and get in the way but, if you truly silence all distractions and go after Him, He will meet you.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with addiction of any kind, please know He doesn't condemn you at all, if you feel condemnation that is nothing but, the enemy. Trust and believe the enemy will use other people to condemn also and to those people who judge or dare to look down on someone in this way, John 8:7 and Matthew 7:1-2. Jesus encourages compassion over condemnation- we all need to be mindful of this.

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus came to give you abundant life. God sent his son Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice so that we could choose to repent and believe- by doing those things we are saved- it's that simple and by doing those things wholeheartedly, things begin to shift. It's only through salvation that we can truly walk in that abundance of life that only He can give. As you can see just in my very condensed version of addiction story, I was not living in abundance- He still loved me, I was still saved, I would still get into Heaven had I passed during that time but, I was living in chains and had never experienced abundance of life, it wasn't until I laid it at the feet of Jesus and chose to trust Him with it that I found true freedom.

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP

He sees you. He wants you. He loves you. There's not one broken or shattered piece of you that He can't pick up and put back together. Only He can make you whole, better than before, brand new and all the while allowing you to experience what true grace is every step of the way. 

Psalms 119:105

Luke 1:37

You are so loved,

Taylor