Counterfeit Peace: Overcoming the Lies of Addiction

To Know an Addiction is to Know Yourself

What do I mean by this? Addictions are often attempts to fill a part of ourselves we’re trying to suppress or escape. They provide a false sense of peace—temporary, counterfeit relief that fades, leaving us empty again.

For example, weed might offer a sense of relaxation, a calmness that feels like peace, or even joy that makes life seem lighter for a while. But this is not true peace, and it’s certainly not the peace that comes from the Lord. The soul, created by God, was designed to be filled with real peace, love, and power. As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

The Enemy’s Counterfeit Peace

Everything created by God responds to His word, including our spirits. Your spirit craves what it was designed for: love, power, and a sound mind. Yet, the enemy knows this, and he uses things like alcohol, weed, and drugs to offer a fake version of what your spirit truly seeks. The more you indulge in these substances, the more you crave them—not because they satisfy, but because they momentarily fill the void that only God can truly fill.

When you take these substances, they don’t just affect your body; they influence your spirit. It’s like handing over control of your body to something else, allowing other spirits to reside in you. Have you ever noticed that people often forget what happened when they were drunk or high? That’s because they’ve surrendered part of their being to another force. Some might remain more aware than others, but the ultimate goal is the same: these spirits want to take over, suppressing the God-given spirit inside you.

Understanding Your Wounds

As I discussed in my previous blog about spiritual trauma, it’s important to ask yourself: What am I running from? What part of me feels empty or wounded? Is it fear, rejection, loneliness, or unhappiness? Knowing your wound is the first step toward healing. Just as a doctor needs to understand your symptoms to treat you, you need to understand your spiritual pain to bring it to God for healing.

The False Peace of Addiction

Each day, take one step closer to healing by reminding yourself that the peace you seek from addiction is false. The joy you experience is fleeting, masked by substances. But true joy, true peace, is real—and it’s waiting for you. You are not a slave to the lies the enemy feeds you.

As Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Claiming Your Authority

You have authority over anything that binds you to temporary pleasures. Your spirit was created to soar, not to be held down by falseness and lies. The truth lives within you, but you must be willing to seek it.

Jesus is the ultimate healer. He knows your wounds, and He can offer you true peace and freedom. You don’t have to walk in deception any longer—He will break the chains that bind you. The enemy operates in systems, trying to trap you in cycles of misery because he doesn’t know your future, and that terrifies him. Misery might love company, but it needs company to survive. Yet, when God turns your misery into truth, you’ll no longer seek false company to fill the void.

Walking the Path to Freedom

Now, I’m not saying it will be easy. But God will walk with you every step of the way. All He asks for is your willingness to be free. He’s already died for your freedom, and He took that pain on Himself so you don’t have to. You just need to take what burdens you and follow Him.

There’s nothing that God cannot restore. No story is too complicated for Him. Addiction will not lead you to freedom; it will trap you and torture you in the long run. Don’t lose your dreams, your aspirations, or the person God called you to be. God’s mercies are new every morning, and His love for you is greater than anything you could imagine.

You Are Worthy of True Peace

You are worthy of experiencing true peace, real joy, and the fullness of life that God has for you. Take a leap of faith, trust in His love, and leave the rest to Him.

I love you, but Jesus loves you more!