Day 8: As Needed, Seek Professional Help
I used to live in Tucson, Arizona. I’d be exaggerating if I said everyone had a swimming pool, or even if most people had pools. But there were so many that a public service commercial would often come on the radio to warn about drowning. I’ll never forget those ads. They began with a long pause of dead air with only a faint splashing sound. Then the narrator would say, “That’s what drowning sounds like.”
Those who are drowning are so consumed by gasping for air that they can’t yell for help or wave their arms. If you’re drowning in defeat over your sexual sin, use whatever energy you can summon to get professional help. Don’t wait for things to get worse or until you get caught.
When you think about where to start when you’re looking for help, I’d suggest you start with the pastor of your local church. Like me, he’s probably not an expert in these areas, but he probably has more to offer than you might expect.
If you don’t have a local church, find somewhere to go this Sunday. Perhaps a friend could suggest a few good churches in your area. Once you’re talking with a pastor, if needed, he can help you find a trusted counselor and continue to move along the spectrum as needed. Perhaps they can even find a dedicated treatment facility; there are several good ones.
But whatever you do, don’t try to fight this alone.
Diagnostic Questions:
If you need help, how are you going to get it? Where will you begin, and when will you begin?
What fears do you have about getting help? Are they rational or irrational fears? Are the reasons for your fears rooted in pride?
Take 5 minutes to think and pray about these questions. Tomorrow I’ll mention something that you need to remember about God because if you don’t, you’ll get stuck in defeat and bitterness.
Previous Videos:
Thank you for watching these videos. If you’ve found them helpful, be sure to share them with your friends and church leadership. To go deeper on each of these strategies (and a dozen other strategies), check out my book Struggle Against Porn: 29 Diagnostics for Your Head and Heart.
