“Sometimes when my daddy drinks a lot of beer and starts yelling, my mommy takes me for a long drive. Then we go home, and my daddy has thrown up all over the floor. I don’t know why my daddy likes to get sick.”

Sadly, this is a real quote from a child about the father who should have been protecting and leading him. The things this world claims as necessary, popular, acceptable, and comforting often prove to be snares that are ready and waiting to trap us. They weigh us down from what the Lord intends for our lives. No one has ever gotten intoxicated to the glory of God, improved their ability to witness through gambling, or sharpened their character by looking at sinful things.

We can be so blind to what is overtaking us if we are not spending time with the Lord in prayer, in devotions, and in church. How quickly our perspective falls! We begin to think we can get away with secret sins without consequence. Truthfully, what we do in secret is no secret in the eyes of the Lord.

It may be an addiction to drinking, gambling, or viewing inappropriate content that is keeping you from growing in the Lord. Gossip, bitterness, and hatred can keep you away from Him just as other sins can. Regardless of what it is that is weighing you down, God wants what is best for you. Giving up what makes you comfortable will be uncomfortable for a time, but in the long run, it will be the most liberating action you could ever take. Finding your fulfillment in the Lord will not only help you in your life, but will also enable you to make a difference in the lives of others.