There’s a lump in your throat.
Your heart’s racing.
You hear a quiet voice from somewhere, whispering, “You know this is wrong. You need to confess your porn addiction.”
Is it God? Or is it just me being too dramatic? How do you even go about quitting pornography?
You’ve been through this cycle before, but this time it feels different. Like something’s pulling you.
Start with confession. The first step to quit porn.
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:15-16
Is this you?
If you’re desperate to find a way out of the pit of porn addiction, but you don’t know where to begin, this message is for you.
If you’re doubting you really have a problem but something feels amiss, this message is for you.
This message is for you if you’re looking for language to describe how you feel.
Jesus said, ”The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10)”… but there’s hope.
Confession is the first step to quit porn.
It’s a prayer offered in faith and an invitation for someone you trust to participate in your healing. (James 5:15 “The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.”)
Confession is the practice; compassion is the purpose.
If you feel stuck in your addiction to porn, take heart: Jesus doesn’t just promise to heal and forgive. He says he’ll “raise [you] up!” The compassion of Christ offers newness of life and an opportunity to walk in freedom.
The enemy discourages you from taking the first step to quit porn.
This is why the enemy will discourage and dissuade you from confession any way he can. He often uses one of the following tactics:
- Trying to convince you that it’s not that big of a deal.
- Making you believe you’re too far gone and it’s not worth it.
- Trying to convince you that your situation is too different or unique.
Do any of these tactics seem familiar? If so, you’re not alone.
Let’s unpack these tactics a bit.
It’s not that big of a deal.
We live in an era where it’s easy to question or criticize anything. The individualistic nature of American culture, in particular, emphasizes the importance of personal choices and personal consequences. One of the first internal conundrums faced by those wrestling with the issue of confession is simple but profound: is it even necessary?
If the enemy can convince you that you’re being dramatic and that it’s best to keep your porn addiction a secret, then the rest doesn’t matter. Satan distorts the notion of peace to persuade you not to confess. How? If he can convince you that keeping your pain to yourself will prevent others from getting hurt, too, then it’s easy to stay in isolation. Confession is perceived to be unnecessary and too costly.
You’re too far gone.
The enemy wants us to live in darkness, isolation, and shame. If he convinces you that your choices and mistakes are simply too much, then the purpose and value of confession is diminished. Why bring something to the light if you’re too hurt, too far gone to forgive? It’s antithetical to The Gospel, but it’s easy to believe when you’ve faced defeat time and again, perhaps over years and years of trying to break the habit. The cross of Christ is a forever reminder of your worth to God and that no sinner is too far for God’s forgiveness.
Your situation is different.
The enemy will do anything he can to convince you of the fallacy of uniqueness. Against the backdrop of the “you do you” culture, it’s easy to buy into the notion that your choices are yours; therefore, the consequences are yours, and the struggles you face are tailored to your personal experiences and choices. It’s difficult to open up to someone else when we think they won’t understand or empathize. That’s what happens when we buy into the lie that our struggle is too personal for anyone to understand, much less forgive.
Confessing your secrets, acknowledging wrong choices, and righting past wrongs can be a terrifying experience. Almost no one finds it easy to admit they are struggling, let alone tell someone else about it, but it is a necessary step in order to find healing.
Finding the courage to quit pornography.
Finding the words to articulate your thoughts, experiences, or fears may be difficult. That’s OK. It may be messy, and it may not be neat, but it will be true.
Overcoming denial is the essential foundation for freedom and is the fastest way to healing (James 5:16).
And you’re not alone. Check out these testimonies, confessions from other porn addicts, who are in the fight with you. Go and share your story with the Freedom Fight community. You can just use your first name or be anonymous, but sharing with others in a virtual community can be a great first step to confession and walking in the light.
Ready to take the next step? Sign up for the 30 day challenge, a powerful, biblically based, and scientifically informed program to help you break free from pornography and other unwanted sexual behaviors.