Counterfeit Joys that Enslave
A few years ago, I wrote a PhD dissertation on Joy in relation to addictive life-controlling habits. Here is Part 2: Counterfeit Joys that Enslave, of a series of short blogs that have come out of this journey of conviction that a true, lived out biblical joy leads to freedom.
Addiction whispers lies: “You need this to cope… Jesus is not enough.” However, the Bible tells a different story; true freedom is found in biblical joy — a joy that cannot be stolen by circumstances, cravings, or struggles.
5-Part Blog Series
This 5-part blog series explores how joy can transform recovery, drawing on Scripture, biblical counselling, and real-life testimonies from people who discovered that joy in Christ really is stronger than addiction.
Today’s blog is about counterfeit joys that enslave us all at times. It is worth pondering and it might just bring each one of us a tad bit closer to understanding those, who struggle with what we might call those “major” addictions.
When Substitutes Fail to Satisfy
Every addiction or life controlling habit promises comfort but delivers chains. Substances, pornography, shopping, food—each offers a counterfeit joy that enslaves, leaving us emptier than before. We all know the feeling of “I’ve done it again, why can’t I just stop, it brings me no more than a very fleeting, momentary comfort, that disappears just as quickly!”
The Bible calls these false pursuits “broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13). The satisfaction of such a pursuit drains away so rapidly and gives nothing. True joy is found in the living water of Christ (John 4:14). Only He satisfies. The false pursuits promise a quick fix. Christ calls us to seek Him. We may have to wait but this living water is eternal and steadfast.
From the Literature Review:
Ajith Fernando described joy as a “forgotten treasure,” warning that in our pleasure-crazed culture, people trade true joy for quick fixes. “Perhaps the most extreme form of this quest for satisfaction at the cost of joy is addiction” (Fernando, 2008).
From the Findings:
One participant confessed, “I always thought I needed Jesus plus my addictive behavior. Now I see that was a lie—I was choosing a counterfeit joy that enslaves.” Jesus leads us away from addictive behaviours and into a freedom that cannot be shared with a counterfeit joy.
How?
My addictive issue was holding on tightly and I was holding on to it because it was easier and faster. As I placed myself in God’s Word, aligning myself with His thoughts, the guilt and shame grew stronger. As this grew, I knew it had to go. One of my really close friends wept as he realised that his greatest counterfeit “love” had to go.
Grief
There is a form of grief and loss that happens, even an emptiness. I needed to focus on my relationship with God and not focus on simply stopping. That never worked (works). It might be “right” but when something addictive captures you fully, it needs to be replaced by something else, something so much better.
I personally know that as I surrendered my issue to the Lord, trusting the Lord with it, over time the desire to “act out” became less until now it is barely an issue. I cried out and pleaded with the Lord to remove the desire. Keep running back to the Lord. This issue had become my deepest treasure. I had to surrender it!
A Desperate Shame
As a child of God, if you have just done something again and you feel shame, and are asking yourself, why? it is most likely that this habit has some kind of enslaving hold over you. Through the shame, keep crying out to God, confessing, asking Him to set you free, as you ask for wisdom to lead you away from the triggers and temptations that are sometimes so very powerful. You feel weak but recognise that God wants to show His power in your weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Maybe there are two or three of you that would benefit from meeting together and going through a programme like Free! Recovery. You are in a battle. It is time to learn how to resist those counterfeit joys that enslave and learn to embrace a true joy.
Ponder
What counterfeit joys do you run to when life feels too heavy?
Action
List three things you often turn to for escape. Then, beside each one, write how Christ offers something deeper and lasting.
Prayer
“Father, forgive me for running to substitutes that never satisfy. Redirect my heart to You, the source of living joy.”
Challenge
When tempted, pause and ask: “Is this a counterfeit joy, or the joy of the Lord?” Then, cry out to God for His help to choose, and fully embrace, the better way.
