Recently I’ve been reading a book about war, entitled: “On The Ground – The Secret War In Vietnam,” by John Stryker Meyer & John E. Peters.
We all have seen the old photos and video footage of Huey helicopters coming in to dangerous territory, to pick up troops during the Vietnam War. This is the mental image I have when thinking about helping someone trapped in addiction.
There are many different forms of addiction: addiction to alcohol; addiction to drugs; addiction to porn; addiction in a domestic violence / trafficking situation; even addiction to fear. (yes, it is possible to be addicted to the adrenaline rush that comes from fear, anxiety, and alarm.)
Just as enemy forces in a war situation move in slowly, bit by bit, to gain control of territory, so also Satan and his forces of evil move in slowly, bit by bit, to gain control of “territory” in people’s lives.
In a war situation, the enemy makes life utterly miserable for those whose “territory” has been overrun. In much the same way, when it comes to spiritual warfare, life becomes utterly miserable for those whom Satan has taken captive and overrun their “territory.”
Addiction literally holds people captive … and won’t let them go.
Addiction makes life utterly miserable for those held captive by it.
If someone you know or love is trapped in addiction, it is really hard to watch the addiction overrun and take control their life. It is really hard to see the absolute misery their life becomes. You desperately want to help … but there is nothing you can do. Except pray!
This is spiritual warfare! Jesus Christ is the High Commander of Heaven’s armies! If there is hope of rescue from enemy forces, our High Commander Jesus can accomplish it!
And so we pray! … and we wait!
Meanwhile, the person trapped in addiction becomes more and more miserable, as the enemy forces of evil wreak havoc all across the “territory” of their life! The enemy plunders and destroys any good “harvest” trying to be produced in the “territory” of their life. For the person trapped in addiction, their life has become utter hell!
Then one day we get word from our High Commander Jesus to fire up the Huey. The person trapped in addiction has reached their very end … and over the crackling radio their cry has come in that they are ready for extraction.
The Huey, waiting for so long, spins the rotors into high speed and takes off! With a whirring advance, the Huey flies swiftly through enemy territory and arrives at the overrun location.
The person trapped in addiction can be seen waving frantically below! Calling out in desperation for help!
That is why we have come! We have come to help!
With a deafening whir of the rotors, the Huey settles in low for a landing. It is intense! The noise is intense! The wind from the pulsating rotors is intense! The roar of the engines is intense! The elephant grass is blown down by the pulsating air!
The doors of the Huey fly open, and the gunner reaches out a hand of rescue. “Climb in!” the gunner calls!
There … in the middle of overrun “territory” … surrounded by enemy forces … with pulsating wind, rotors beating the air … the ground vibrating underfoot … … “Get in!!” … … “Climb in!!”
But the desperate person just stands there … frozen in terror!
Terror of leaving the “familiar.”
The tension is extreme! This area is dangerous. This is enemy territory! The time to move is now! We’ve got to go! “Get in!” … “Climb in!” … “We’ve got to go now!!”
Then suddenly … to everyone’s utter astonishment … the desperate person pulls out an AK-47 and opens fire on the rescue Huey!!
The sound of gunfire splits the air as bullets pummel the Huey … sitting there, vulnerable and waiting … doors wide open, arm outstretched to lift the desperate person to safety.
Bullets rip holes through the fuselage! Gas starts leaking! The Huey is compromised!
Confusion and chaos break out on the Huey! The control panel is alight with red flashing warning signals; alarms are going off … as gas pours out through the bullet-ridden fuselage!
“Pull up! Pull up!! We’re hit!!”
Immediately the Huey pulls up off the ground, as bullets continue raining toward it in the air!
The Huey is compromised … deep in enemy territory. If the Huey does not return to base immediately, it is in danger of coming down. The Huey backs off, high into the sky … turns … and heads away.
Meanwhile … the desperate person stands there … gazing long after the departing Huey … filled with utter turmoil of conflicting emotions! Not sure whether to be relieved … or in despair.
This is what it is like trying to help a person trapped in addiction.
To truly help a person trapped in addiction, the desperate person must be willing to be helped. Plain and simple.
No matter how much we care about them, we simply cannot force them against their will to “climb on board the Huey.”
If we attempt to force a person trapped in addiction “on board the Huey”, there is the very real risk that they will “open fire” inside the rescue Huey. The journey to recovery will be a long one, and if the person trapped in addiction decides to open fire inside the Huey, they will blow out the instrumentation panel, injure and wound the rescue crew, and ultimately bringing the entire helicopter to the ground in a devastating crash!
We cannot force a person trapped in addiction to “climb aboard the rescue chopper.”
A person trapped in addiction must be willing to be helped.
They must be willing to lay the AK-47 on the ground, leave it behind, and climb aboard the “rescue chopper” without it.
They must be willing to take the long journey to recovery … no matter how long it takes.
They must be willing to leave behind the “familiar.”
They must be willing to face and accept the uncertainty of the “unknown” … no matter how scary it seems.
They must be willing to do the hard work recovery requires.
They must be willing to be brave … and face whatever lies at the end of the recovery process.
They must be willing to start all over in a new life, free from addiction … however that looks.
We cannot force help upon a person trapped in addiction.
The path to recovery has to be their own willing choice.
