The Role of Addiction

Most of society views a prodigal in a negative light. More times than not, the evidence of addiction fuels that view because it is on full display in the prodigal’s life.

Negative consequences of addiction include health issues, legal troubles, financial problems, and relationship conflicts.

Addiction can involve things like drugs, alcohol, nicotine, gambling, shopping, sex, and pornography.

The causes of addiction can be complex and differ from person to person. Factors like genetics, biology, psychology, societal pressures and the environment can play a role. It is not always a cut and dried approach of simply stopping whatever the substance might involve. It also takes looking past the substance, seeking to determine other negative factors at play in their life.

Prodigals reject God’s offer because they have a distorted view of God and of themselves. Rather than seeing God as trustworthy, prodigals won’t let Him in. They defend the innermost parts of their being from everyone.

To Come Alongside

What does the phrase “to come alongside” mean to you? Maybe the words care for, admonish, encourage, comfort, teach, pray for, build up and spur on help define this phrase in a clearer way.

What is the most powerful weapon that you can use as you come alongside a prodigal? Prayer.¹

Satan’s best weapon is fear. Will the prodigal ever return safely? There are no guarantees. But you know what? God hears your prayers.¹

When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

– Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

Walking the Path

The road to redemption for a prodigal is hard. That road is also hard for the loved ones of the prodigal. You will experience a mix of emotions, including anger, frustration, overwhelming grief, and loss. There will be repentance, letting go, fear of relapse, and reconnecting.

But to be honest, not every prodigal’s story has a happy ending.  H. Norman Wright, author of Loving a Prodigal writes, “One of the most devastating experiences is when the consequences of a prodigal’s choices can’t be reversed.” ^2(p35) As hard as it may be, dear loved one, you have to make tough decisions regarding the rest of your life and how you will let this affect you.

God is Our Hope

Charles R. Swindoll writes about suffering in Hope Again: When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade. “God has given us a purpose for our existence, a reason to go on, even though that existence includes tough times. Living through suffering, we become sanctified – in other words, set apart for the glory of God. We gain perspective. We grow deeper. We grow up!”¹

Swindoll offers six reasons for our hope in the midst of suffering³:

1. We have a living hope. (1 Peter 1:3)
2. We have a permanent inheritance; our eternal home is secured. (1Peter 1:3-4)
3. We have divine protection. (1 Peter 1:5)
4. We have a developing faith. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
5. We have an unseen Savior at work in unseen ways. (1 Peter 1:8)
6. We have guaranteed deliverance. (1 Peter 1:9)

You have a dependable, durable God who cares about you. Whether or not your prodigal returns, let your suffering make you a better Christian. Let the Refiner burn out the impurities in your Christian walk. You will fulfill your calling if you do.¹ Just as Mordecai told Esther, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

– Esther 4:14, (NKJV)

In closing, this writer endorses the mission of Soul’s Harbor because they provided my son, a prodigal, with the tools to encourage him on the road to sobriety. Although he relapsed over time, he never forgot what he learned and experienced at Soul’s Harbor. He will celebrate 10 years of sobriety this December 2023, and he has a very successful job and a wonderful family.

If someone desires sobriety, follows the program, and has faith in God or a higher power, they will succeed. While it may take several attempts to get themselves on track, Soul’s Harbor stands behind each man that enters their doors. While a man’s life may not look like what he envisioned because of his life of addiction and homelessness, there is so much hope for him to become the man he was meant to be. At Soul’s Harbor, men can find hope, grace and sobriety.

References:

1. Brendan O’Rourke, PhD and DeEtte Sauer, The Hope of a Homecoming (Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress, The Navigators, 2003). p.24, 25, 64,135
2. H. Norman Wright, Loving a Prodigal: A Survival Guide for Parents of Rebellious Children (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor, 1999), p.35
3. Charles R. Swindoll, Hope Again: When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, W Publishing Group, 1996). (Ch. 2)

Cynthia Blair RN MA–September 2023