How Do I Stop Turning to Sinful Things?
Message: I feel like I am falling away from God and I am turning to other, sinful things to help my pain and I don’t know how to stop.
Response: While I don't know what specifically you're going through right now, it sounds like it's something rather tough. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to open up here. You are not alone in feeling this way about you're Christian walk and it's something many of us experience at one time or another. Sometimes we see fellow Christians, how good their walk with God seems, and we start comparing ourselves. Especially when we're having moments that we're struggling it can feel really frustrating. So know that even though you are going through some hardship in your relationship with God right now, it doesn't make you a bad Christian. You are clearly searching for answers, so use this time as a growing experience. Keep the line open and talk with God continually about what you're going through. The devil wants nothing more than for you to be too ashamed to talk with God. But there is nothing you can do that will make God turn His back on you. So tell Him everything, ask for His strength and wisdom as you go through this period of life.
There are three aspects of health, spiritual, physical, and mental, that impact each other quite a bit. When one suffers it is not uncommon for another area to suffer as well. You say your spiritual health is currently struggling and it sounds like you may be banging your head into a wall trying to figure out what to do. While I do encourage you to continue to seek God, get involved in your church, and try to continue studying His word, chances are you also need to invest in the other two aspects.
Physical health often falls to the back burner, especially when we become overwhelmed with the demands of the world. It can be hard to make exercise and a proper diet priority but these things have such an important relationship with mental health that making the effort is important. Physical health doesn't just look like running or eating tons of veggies though. It also comes in the form of drinking plenty of water, getting good sleep, taking time to stretch, fresh air, and sunlight.
Mental health is very closely tied into the first two as spiritual and physical health directly impacts mental health. When we invest in these two areas we will simultaneously be investing in our mental health. But there are more things that we can do to invest in mental health as well. Make sure you are taking the time to do the things that bring you joy. God made us intelligent, creative, and curious creatures. If there is something that sparks your interest, you should pursue it. Take time to enjoy hobbies and passions. Whether that is reading, some form of art, making instructional videos, or fixing things, make sure you allow yourself time to enjoy these things. Form healthy habits that include these moments of "you time" so you can learn more about who you are.
No matter how far from God you may feel, know that He is always right there waiting for you to grab His hand. You are so very precious to Him. If you find that you are still struggling to reconnect, don't hesitate to reach out to someone you trust like a Pastor, trusted adult, or even a counselor.
