Good tidings of great joy

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Angels introduced Jesus to the world with the words, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy!” (Luke 2:8) Whatever else I need in this life, I certainly need that kind of good news.

Isiah described Jesus as one who proclaims liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. (Isiah 61:1) That kind of good news is music to my ears because I’ve experienced captivity and the prison of addiction.

When I’m honest about the state I’m in when I’m acting out, I admit that I’m choosing to believe that I can hide from God just like I hide from my family (Psalm 139:11-12). And that I love the object of my addiction more than I love God. And that I worship my addiction instead of God; I put a false god before the true God and in a real way, that I want to be God.

Part of the good news is that I can find a way out of my addiction through the words that the Child who was found lying in a manger would go on to say. Some of the more powerful points I’ve found there are embracing honesty and light over darkness, making and following a plan and making God central to it all.

When I embrace honesty and light over darkness. I stop lying to myself and others. I stop believing thoughts like “I can stop any time,” “I’m not like other adicts,” and “I’m not hurting anyone.” Lies reveal my allegiance to the kingdom of darkness and so to change I must turn my allegiance to the Kingdom of Light.

My plan includes consistently bringing good news, good people, good thoughts and healthy habits into my life. And I ask for and rely upon God's help with the entire plan. I trust that He can heal me, I maintain curiosity about how He’ll do it and I enjoy the process.

I believe that the larger part of the good news has more to do with who God is; that it’s mostly about getting to know Him. I’ve learned not to see Him as a demanding Zeus figure, a jolly Santa Claus or even a loving grandpa. Instead, I see Him as a friend who changes me when I let Him, but for who I am always enough. When I do, I’m filled with the peace and joy the angels promised the shepherds and I can walk through life and out of the chains of addiction with God at my side.

So during this Christmas Season, I celebrate Jesus’ birth and I celebrate my relationship with a powerful, close Friend.

What’s next?

  • Embrace honesty and light

  • Make and follow a plan

  • If He’s not already, make a new friend in God. After all, He wants to call you his friend (John 15:15)

By Ty, Writing Team