Addiction & Giving up

Addiction is a funny thing, isn't it? I don't just mean big things like drugs and alcohol and smoking, but just in general. We are so addicted to so many things and we don't even realize it half the time! I was, literally, addicted to sucking my fingers. Yup, just like sucking your thumb but I used my middle and ring finger instead. I decided to stop this summer when my parents said they would get me braces if I did (not gonna happen) and attempted to do so cold turkey. It was really hard, I was on vacation in California and it was super difficult. I was grumpy and tired and couldn't sleep, sucking my fingers was all I wanted. Even now, five or six months later, I still get the urge to do it! ALL THE TIME. Sucking my fingers made me happy and really comfortable, that's why we get addicted. We get addicted to the feeling. I'm pretty sure we are all addicted to something, even the simplest of things such as: cellphones, computers, video games, a certain type of food, exercise, make up, hair, music, shopping, eating, relationships, etc.
God put this on my heart to write about addiction (still not completely sure why). My mom right now is trying to quit smoking and I know it is really hard on her. People who are in the midst of breaking an addiction are super vulnerable and we need to be people who encourage them. JESUS IS THE KEY to breaking an addiction, remind them of that and DO NOT FORGET TO PRAY. If you are reading this and being called out on some sort of addiction, I encourage you to totally go and break it! The only thing you should ever be addicted to is Jesus. If you need prayer, let me know.
Another thing that God has put on my heart to write about is giving up. Giving up is something that I seem to feel as if I am an expert in, not in actually breaking down and giving up, but just the thought of it. So many times in my life I have wanted to give up, I never did though. If you truly love something and you truly want it, don't you ever give up. If you can't fight for something you love then you don't deserve it.
"Stand in the rain, stand your ground, stand up when it's all crashing down. If you stand through the pain you won't drown and someday what's lost can be found."
This is a verse from the song "Stand in the Rain" by Superchick that has always encouraged me. When I would listen to it I would get tingles and I knew that it was meant for me. It's the truth too, when everything around you is falling apart and life is bending you until you break I want you to turn around and give that big dumb turd Satan and good smack in the face and let him know you are stronger then that. Trust me, it will pay  off. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel and that light is there for you and me. Sometimes coming out of the darkness and running towards the light is when you find yourself. Click here to listen to Stand in the Rain.
There is always a fine line between not giving up and hurting yourself, make sure you're careful not to cross that line.