"Riders on the Storm"

This week I want to take one of my favorite bible stories and use it to relate the dangers and affects of porn addiction. I am going to use the story of Jonah. You know Joe, the man who didn't go where God told him to. He jumped a ship, got swallowed by a big fish and was thrown up 3 days later. Then Joe got back on track but not without leaving a storm trail behind him.

When Joe boarded that ship the crew had no idea of the baggage he was carrying with him. He was hauling  the fear and guilt of disobedience, the determination that things were going to be his way. This was a weight that this ship couldn't bear. Did you carry the baggage of porn into a relationship or marriage? Are they still in the dark about your problem?

I'm sure when that ship pulled out of port it was a beautiful day and the captain was looking forward to a worry free journey. But all that came to a halt once they made it out to sea. The Lord send a massive storm. He sent a storm so strong that the ship threatened to break up. This of course frightened the crew. They were so scared that they began to throw cargo overboard to lighten the load and possibly save the ship. While all this was going on Joe was below deck in a sound sleep. The captain had to come down and wake him up. He was told to pray to his god and maybe he would spare them their lives. The sea was getting worse and the crew now figured out that Joe was the cause of this. So Joe admitted what he was doing and told them to throw him overboard and things would be better. The men did not want to throw him over. They continued to row trying to get back to land. Of course they couldn't do it. So they threw Joe over and the rest is history.

When we look at the story we always see that Jonah went on to do what God asked him to do in the first place. But what about the crew? What happened to them? Porn addiction does not only effect you it also effects your family and friends. When you choose to look at porn you are taking hours out of your day to spend alone browsing the web while more that likely playing hanky panky with the man downstairs. (sorry but its the truth)  Where was Joe? He was alone in the bottom of the ship asleep while everything else was going on around him. The crew was still blind to what was going on. They had no idea of the trouble ahead.

Are you now in a situation like Joe to where there is a storm approaching and you need to admit it? Joe had to stand up and admit what he had done and told them what they had to do to calm the storm. The crew who didn't even know Joe were willing to spare his life and began rowing back to shore. Your family will do the same. Its scary to admit to something so vile and disgusting as porn. You think your family will think your a pervert. You are not! Porn is an addiction. Recent studies have shown that internet porn is more addictive than crack cocaine. Mary Anne Layden, co-director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program said "pornography addicts have a more difficult time recovering from their addiction, since coke users can get the drug out of their system, but pornographic images stay in the brain forever." The internet is the perfect drug delivery system because you are anonymous, aroused and have role models for these behaviors. This drug is pumped into your house 24/7 and you can find it for free. Its a perfect delivery system if we want to have addicts who will never get the drug out of their mind. The internet is dangerous because it removes the inefficiency in the delivery of porn, making porn much more ubiquitous that the days when guys in trench coats would sell nudie postcards.

What  did Joe's actions do to the crew of the ship after he was thrown over? When the crew threw Joe over the storm did stopped just like you may stop looking at porn. But the crew (your family) still had a mess to clean up and work on. Imagine a ship being tossed in the sea like a ragdoll. I'm sure there was nothing left in its original place. The crew had to put the ship back together and it took time just as the healing process takes time. I don't know how long it will take to restore stability and trust. I do know from personal experience its not overnight. Know that there is healing in Christ. Jonah knew this he prayed during his time in the belly of the whale "the engulfing waters threatened me the deep surrounded me:seaweed was wrapped around my head." Does that sound like what you are going through? Joe continued "but you brought my life up from the pit,O Lord my God."

When you are dealing with addiction you need all the support you can get. Sometimes you may feel like the crew of your ship is not there for you. Realize this, they are going through rough seas too. Joe caused the storm, had to suffer 3 days in the belly of a whale then went on to do as God commanded. As for the crew of the ship I'm sure it took them a few months to get back on their feet economically. They were tossing their cargo,(the trust,the stability of relationships) overboard. You as an addict maybe getting the help you need. Remember you knew this was going on just a Joe did. Your family (the crew) just found out. That makes it new and painful to them. Allow them to vent and tell you how they feel with out getting mad or upset. This is part of their healing process. Often times the family of addicts feel left out of the treatment process. They need treatment too just on a different level. The family sometimes takes longer to heal than the addict.

Don't be a Joe! Don't let your family continue to ride out this silent storm that is going to reveal itself sooner or later. Bring it out now and start the healing process. There are plenty of places to go for help. Check out www.xxxchurch.com,  www.X3pure.com or www.everymansbattle.com they are just a few of the many places you can go and get help. Know that you are loved by Jesus and through him you can do all things.

Here is a great verse that always reminds me i am not alone...

Psalm 54 Save me O God,by your name;vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer O God; listen to the word of my mouth. Strangers are attacking men (PORN) ruthless men seek my life-men with out regard for God. Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

I hope you have a great week!!!

Steve-Oh

LOVE JESUS/LOVE PEOPLE

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