hings fail. We hear the stories all the time. Cars, computer software, electronics … they all go down for the count at some point. When our items become worse for wear, we know our options include replacing them. Once we purchase a new gadget, widget, or gidget, we can empty ourselves of the old rather easily. After all, things are just things.

But what happens when Christians fail? Some may immediately take failure in stride, remaining confident of their value in God’s eyes. And yet, when many Christians fail, they lose sight of the value God has placed on them and continue to exercise repetitive habits. Too often, their lives end up crash-landing into the unfriendly jungles of addiction.

People trapped in the tangles of addiction, whether it is drugs, sex, food or something else, are locked in continuous battle with their own negative thoughts and behaviors. They might come to a point where they wish they could purchase a new life. People caught up in addictive webs may continue to look past their own moral values and compromise their ability to deal with reality by further medicating themselves inside their addiction. New addictions often arise and are modeled for loved ones, who also run the risk of acquiring addictive behavior.

Secrecy usually accompanies addiction, affecting communication and causing relationships to suffer. We often see the casualties of addiction in the forms of depression, job loss, divorce and suicide.

Whether your own addictive behavior or behavior of another person threatens your relationships, there is hope.

According to Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Though Romans also tells us we are saved by grace, our capacity to sin persists. There is enough evidence in our culture suggesting Christians continue to battle sin despite God’s command for us to endeavor toward purity.

Authentic relationships tend to fall to the wayside as Christian addicts keep up appearances in a “please don’t ask, because I don’t want to tell” cycle of facades seen on Sunday mornings. True hurt remains covered. Addictions are allowed to fester. Relationships rot. Honesty becomes less attractive as addicts work overtime to cover up their affliction.

For many Christians suffering from addiction, taking steps to shed light on their situation risks facing possible rejection from and loss of status with others, which can further damage their self-esteem. The solution to dealing with addictive behavior in a healthy way requires Christians and non-Christians to take the first step by casting off the preservation of their own self-identity and reclaiming the identity God placed on his children as seen in 1 John 3:1: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …”

Operating out of our identity in Christ, Christians can face rejection, seek help from friends, pastors, counselors, and move forward down the path of recovery from addictions. Though the path of recovery includes rebuilding relationships, the cost of restoration pales in comparison to the cost of a life of continued addiction.

Besides, it doesn’t matter how tattered life becomes for those who believe in Jesus Christ. The open arms of our Savior can carry any burden and are ready to lift at any time, without fail.