Have you ever found yourself stuck in the same old struggle?
You’re not alone! Hurts, hang-ups, and habits spoil the lives of many of us—and more importantly, the lives God wants for us. But what exactly do these terms mean? Let’s take a closer look.
Hurts: Wounds We Carry
“I just can’t get over how he treated me.”
“What happened is unbearable.”
We’ve all been hurt; it’s an inevitable part of life. Perhaps we have experienced loss, rejection, trauma, or disappointment. Hurts can leave us feeling broken, abandoned, or betrayed.
Some examples of hurt include:
- Abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional)
- Abandonment or betrayal
- Loss of a loved one
- A broken or difficult relationship
God cares for us and He has the power to restore us.
“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
If left unhealed, hurts can become more deeply rooted and lead to us developing a hang-up.
Hang-ups: Chains That Hold Us Back
“I’m not good enough.”
“I’ll never forgive her.”
A hang-up is something that keeps us mentally or emotionally stuck. It may be a nagging voice in our head that keeps us stuck in fear or self-doubt. Perhaps it’s the result of a past hurt we didn’t know how to move on from. Maybe it’s a false belief we’ve developed over time. Hang-ups keep us from fully embracing the freedom we can have in Jesus.
Common hang-ups include:
- Fear of rejection, blame or shame
- Perfectionism
- Low self-esteem
- Anger, resentment, or bitterness
The Bible tells us that we can change our thinking. We can allow God to renew our minds, replacing negativity with His truth, our old perspectives with His.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
If we don’t address our hang-ups, we may turn to unhealthy ways of coping — which leads us to habits.
Habits: Coping Mechanisms That Control Us
“I can’t stop bingeing.”
“I need them to approve of me.”
When we don’t know how to overcome our hang-ups, we are susceptible to developing habits—destructive behaviours which we hope will bring comfort or distraction from pain. However, they ultimately lead to further hurt to ourselves or others. We may think they help us to control our pain, but the habits can end up controlling us.
Some common habits include:
- Addictions (e.g. drugs, alcohol, food, pornography, gambling)
- Co-dependency (relying on others for validation or worth)
- Unhealthy coping mechanisms (self-harm, control, workaholism)
God gives His Spirit to those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ. And His Spirit is powerful to help us make better choices.
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Habits promise relief but only deepen our struggles.
Freedom is Possible
There is hope for change! Whether you carry deep hurts, struggle with negative mindsets, or battle unhealthy behaviours —God wants to set you free.
At Celebrate Recovery, we look to Jesus Christ and His directions for recovery. This biblically-based programme leads people along the road to recovery to overcome life’s hurts, hang-ups, and habits.
My personal hurts, hang-ups and habits – once stumbling blocks to a happy life – became stepping stones to a fuller life of freedom and purpose. God’s grace is bigger than any hurt, hang-up, or habit, and through Him, recovery is possible!
If you can admit you have a hurt, a hang-up, or a habit, and are ready to seek God’s help to overcome it, I encourage you to seek out a Celebrate Recovery group and trust God to lead you along this tried and tested route to recovery.
