Life is challenging for the best of us and sometimes it is our mental health that takes a toll because of it. When too much hardship falls on us and we don’t know how to cope, we often turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as addiction and substance abuse, but this is not the true answer that we are seeking. Everything a person truly craves can be found in God’s love and in His promises for our lives. The truth of God’s love can set you free from addiction, substance abuse and every other kind of mental hardship.

Everyone is loved by God, even those who do not know Him or accept Him. God does not require our love to be reciprocal. He created us and he delights in us, and when we stray from him or turn our backs to Him, He pursues us with love. Many people do not understand this concept. They see only how broken the world is and insist that God’s love cannot be real because there is too much pain in the world. They do not understand that humanity chose control and separation from God over obedience and co-existence with God, which lead to our present destructive state. But this does not mean that we cannot spend eternity with Him, because His love is available to us any time we are in need.

Because God’s love is so thorough, it has the power to overcome life’s hardships, such as addiction, substance abuse, and the painful situations that cause them. Accepting God’s love, grace, forgiveness and promises is the best thing a person can do in their lifetime, because they will be freed from all of their mental oppression. God’s love moves into all of the spaces that negative thought and behavior patterns used to consume and turns them into qualities that resemble his own: grace, forgiveness, love, good works, truth and courage. If you are struggling with negative thoughts that are weighing down on your life, try asking God to move into your life so that you can accept His love.