Episode 1267: I Can Stop Anytime I Want and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves

"I can handle it. I can stop the spending, the drinking, the gambling, let go of the hurt, any time I want." What we're really saying is: I'm quite capable of being God myself. And that's actually humanity's oldest problem. It goes all the way back to the Garden. The desire to call the shots, control the image, manage the pain, fix the problem without any outside help. But here's the hard truth: if you could handle this, you would have already. If you could get out any time you wanted, you'd be out by now. The fact that it's still there is the evidence. We don't change when we see the light. We change when we feel the heat. Pain is God's megaphone. So ask yourself honestly: has your attempt to control this situation been making it better or worse?Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.