It is different for everyone because we are unique and therefore every situation tailored specifically to us. Sometimes it is going along with someone who was a bad influence to you in the past, or something as common as drug and alcohol addictions. Either way they are some kind of addiction that is in some way unhealthy for us. Even the simple things like an addiction to sugary or spicy foods.

What are addictions really? I do not think people think about it much, but an addiction is used in place of something you feel you are missing or to balance the negativity you are feeling. Every time I reach for an energy drink and “Hot Cheetos” it is not just because I think they taste good. The only times I really need them, or want them, is when I am dealing with something stressful. I may not even realized I am stressed until later when I see how much crap I have put into my system.

Because junk food is a habit of mine that I have always had, I got self conscious about the weight my body had accumulated and started throwing up everything I ate. I felt like I did not have to face my junk food addiction by purging it out of my system. The longer I did that the more it became my way of dealing with stress than just dealing with weight issues. Anytime I was really upset I would sit down and eat everything in front of me, then purge everything. I felt like I was releasing everything I had built up inside through doing that.

It has been awhile since I have engaged in such a thing, but it still haunts me. Whenever I am extremely upset and eat something or walk by the bathroom I think about it and sometimes yearn for the chance to do it. I know it is bad for me and the repercussions for doing it, so I am able to stay away from it but it is really hard. It seems so much easier than actually facing a problem and trying to work through it. It is also hard sometimes calling on God for His help when I need it. I go through those stages where I feel like I should not waste His time with such things when I should be able to take care of them myself. Plus I get feeling ashamed whenever falling back on an old habit.

You cannot be scared to ask for help or feel like you should do it all on your own. When we deal with addictions we are dealing with things that have been woven into our skin and have a hard time getting out. We need to be open and honest with not only ourselves, but with God as well.

Stressing over bills? It does not take a bad economy or good one even to stress over the bills getting paid. There is always going to be some kind of stress over payment at some point. Maybe you spent a little too much at Wal-Mart or the amount of one bill rose above what you use to pay so you are not prepared with the means this month. You cannot let it take over your mood, though. These things are always going to happen.

My father stresses big time over bill paying. He sets aside every Thursday morning to pay them. All week all he can think about it how he is going to pay everything. When Thursday morning comes he loads up on the coffee and starts freaking out before he even opens the bills or turns the computer on. He runs his hands through his hair so many times that its amazing you do not see huge clumps falling out. He is however graying at a rapid pace behind it.

Anyway, he will sit there screaming at the computer and throwing things around because he cannot quit fidgeting. He gets so stressed out thinking not everything will get paid. And you know what? Sometimes the bills get pushed back, or something else happens. He has actually paid the amount of one bill to another company without realizing it until a week later. That gets him in a tizzy. He freaks out and has a little breakdown before actually fixing the problem.

I am always telling him, “Dad, do not let it get you so stressed out. We will make it through like we always have.” He says he knows that but that he cannot quit the behaviors. It is scary to him thinking that he cannot always pay the bills. I understand that completely, but I do not see how one can let it ruin your day when it will work out eventually. So you were not able to pay the bills one month? You lived right? It is not the end of the world when bill paying day comes. It is only natural that you should feel a little wary, but to have almost have a panic attack every time you sit down to pay them is not healthy nor wise.

My grandparents are never happy about paying the bills, but they do it anyway. If there is something wrong my grandfather will sometimes throw a fit, but my grandmother always stays calm. Sometimes she will have a slight attitude towards the rest of the family, but she never lets it get the best of her. In a few hours she is okay. Paying bills is just a part of “everyday life” that we must deal with. And because it is something we are forced upon every month we should just except it for what it is and not let it ruin our mood. Life is too short to be spending on stress. Of course stress is always going to follow us, but we do not have to let it rule us, nor should we.

God is our protector. We go through life often thinking that we are alone; but the whole time we have the strongest defense standing with us. We open our hearts to God so He can lie in us, even though he already does. Everything we are is due to Him, because He loves us and created us. All those little blessings we receive add up to a lifetime of blessings. Though we may feel alone and like nothing is going our way, we always have something going right.

I have seen many suffer, and many others take those sufferings and turn them into blessings. I have personally seen one of those painters that paints with their teeth, and guitarists that play with their toes. It is amazing what they can do, and they love doing it. They do not let their shortcomings stop them from doing what otherwise is considered impossible. It took a certain amount of faith in themselves to overcome what people call disadvantages. We as Christians should do the same in our walk with Christ. We have to have a great faith that we will be able to conquer any shortcomings with the Lord’s hands holding us up.

There are no limits for God, and as His children He wants us to feel the same. The things that we do not get are often times bad for us. Our lives are incredibly precious to God, and He knows what is best for us even if we cannot see it. We cannot see the future nor know how certain things will end or what they will grow into. God knows, and if we fight Him, thinking we know “better” then we may just find ourselves in a lot of trouble. The term “hitting rock bottom” would not just be a term but have some reality to it once tacked to your forehead as a wake up call.

Often times we will find ourselves in situations where we are lost and even afraid. God protects us from all of those things. When we get ourselves into dangerous holes where we are afraid that we will never see ourselves out, God will reach out Hand and bring us back to “normal” or sometimes even better. We cannot be afraid to cry out to Him. No matter what He will always hear our pleas.

He also forgives us of the wrongs we have committed and protects us from wrongs against us. He will heal any wounds inflicted in our battles even. Though He does not want us to fight, He knows we will. There will always be conflict, but that is not our fault nor His. Evil, the wicked, however you want to look at it, there is BAD out there and it will fight you. “World Peace” is a wonderful concept, but there will always be someone who wants world war.

The world is not a perfect place nor will it ever be. God gives us the choice to choose to which path we follow. Because of that, and the fact that the “wide road” is easier to follow, many go down that path. Not all people who are on that road are necessarily “evil” a majority of them are. Without the proper protection from the wicked we might either be drawn in or destroyed. God can protect us and does. But sometimes we have to ask Him. A lot about this religion is asking because everything is up to personal choice. We just have a hard time doing that. We need to realize that not everything is handed to us. A lot of what we do is done “on our own” but God does help. He is always behind the scenes and yearning for you to ask Him to lend a hand.

We are loved, safe and protected, forgiven, and blessed on a daily basis. Without God we would not be. So remember to be thankful. Also, keep God close in your heart and do not be afraid or forget to ask Him for help whenever you need it. Whether it be something small and “trivial” or something life changing, He will hear you and help in a way that is best for you. We may not always agree, but trust in Him. We are His forever, even if we “fail” Him; which with His mercy and forgiveness is forgiven and forgotten.

In Romans 5:1-2 it says: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” If we give everything to Jesus we will have peace and that makes our relationship with God stronger causing our faith to grow. Faith can come by prayer, thanksgiving and with reading the Bible. It says in Romans 10:8-11 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” When you pray close your eyes and listen to what Jesus says. Let him guide you through your day. Sometimes you might not hear anything and that is when you must have faith that God is there holding your hand and leading you through everything.

In Ephesians 6:10-18 it says: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” In order to be strong in the Lord and to fight the devil from his schemes it takes faith and we can only do that by listening to Jesus and obeying the word of God.