Breaking up with an old habit is very difficult. It will scream, throw a fit, and hang on for dear life. Habits are hard to dismiss.

Your old bad habit will scream at you:

• You can’t live without me. You need me.
• When you’re down, sad and lonely, I take care of you.
• You’ve used me for the last 20 years. I’m of great value to you.
• You need me when pain gets triggered.
• You can’t break up with me. I will not easily let go of you. I will resist and fight to stay.
• You need me. I have always been there for you.
• When no one cared, I brought you some temporary relief.
• You hate being alone and you hate pain. I promise to be with you the rest of your life.
• I am a habit. I don’t mind waiting around. And I don’t mind living in the background. I’m perfectly happy to wait for just the right moment.
• When you were a boy, you needed me. Life gets hard. When no one is there to care, I will be waiting.
• You have no alternative. At least none that you really believe in. You are too weak to fight emotional pain without me.

An Alternative

With your (grown man) strength you grab the scared boy (of your youth) and hold him. Then Jesus holds you. And the comforter, the Holy Spirit, surrounds you. And Abba joins in by covering all. You stay in that moment until rejection melts away. After a few minutes, rest returns and you reset.

Bible: Jesus said.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)