"...are more likely to smoke cigarettes (34.8% mentally ill people vs 16.5% non-mentally ill people"
This is quite a remarkable statistic, right? However, there is more to this statistic, though. The CDC actually breaks this down to individual mental illnesses. For example, according to the CDC,
"Schizophrenia: 62% to 90% of individuals smoke cigarettes
Bipolar Disorder: 44% to 74%of individuals tend to smoke cigarettes
Major Depressive Disorder: 34%-46% of individuals smoke cigarettes
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: 45%-61% of individuals smoke cigarettes"
As someone who deals with Schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, I find this information astounding. It seems like I honestly had no chance of being a non-smoker. According to these statistics, I was a lost cause and I really should have been. However, the Lord never gave up on me, even when I was ready to give up on myself. All the glory goes to Him.
Next, I would like to tell you about my story because I would like for you to know where I came from so that you will understand why it is such a celebration to see where I am now. The first time I ever started smoking was when I was in foster care back in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was about 15 years old. I remember my foster brother and I would sneak outside around one in the morning to go by the outlet stores in search of what we called "re-fries". What we meant by "re-fries" was old cigarette butts that we would find outside. If you find this nasty, I do agree with you. It really was nasty and at the time I felt very uncomfortable, but I went along with it anyway. However, this only lasts for a couple nights. After that, I did not smoke again until I was nineteen years old. At this time, I was living in a teen group home called Step-In Group Home in Canon City, Colorado, and I was working towards getting my GED. In my GED class, there were two girls named Rita and Crystal. I would hang out with them literally every day and they are the ones who introduced me to Newport 100s. After a few hits on that cigarette, I was instantly hooked! However, after I moved out of the group home and into my own place, I could no longer smoke Newport 100s anymore due to their prices. So, I was thinking that there should be a cigarette that was just as good, but not so expensive. This is when I discovered Camel Wides and I really loved them As a matter of fact, I loved them so much that I would "break the bank" by buying a pack of Camel Wides every day. However, there was still something about Newport 100s that I missed. I was not sure at the time what that was, but looking back, I know that it was the menthol I was missing. This is when I discovered Camel Crush. I felt like I finally found my perfect cigarettes because now I can smoke a menthol cigarette but it would be cheaper than Newports. I was completely satisfied with Camel Crushes and I would smoke these all the way up until my early 30s. At this time, I was living in Toledo, Ohio and I could no longer afford Camel Crushes. As a result, I began smoking Montego Menthols and I stuck with these all the way to the present time because they are the cheapest brand of cigarettes here in Ohio, besides Senecas, which I refused to get. If it seems like I love cigarettes too much, it is because it is the truth. I really do love smoking. I love how it makes me feel and how it tastes and I love the smell. But, I do realize that cigarettes are not good for my health and it really is killing me. For this reason, I am glad God has taken away these cravings finally.
Now, I know you may be thinking "What about me?" right? I know you are probably feeling a little jealous of me because God has taken my craving away from me but not from you. Again, I would like for you to always keep in mind that I am no one special in God's eyes. I am "simultaneously a sinner and saint" just like you. It took me a very long time before I was able to quit smoking and even then it happened only after many years of begging God to take my cravings away. If you are currently smoking and you feel condemned, I would like to remind you of Romans 8:1, which says,
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Italics mine)
Did you notice how Paul is speaking in the present tense in this verse? I do not believe this was an arbitrary choice from him. Paul was telling his readers that if we believe and trust in Christ then that means right this very moment we are no longer condemned. It does not matter what you do or have done or will do because you are forever covered in the grace of Christ. Ultimately, it does not matter if you keep smoking or if you want to quit. I know that statement is going to land me in a lot of hot water, but please hear me out. What I mean is this, if you are in Christ, that means your salvation is secured forever no matter what you do. When Christ was on the cross, He cried out "It is finished", and at that moment, the fate of all of God's elect was forever saved. It does not matter whether we sin or not because nothing can separate us from His love. However, there are many reasons why you should quit smoking. Three main reasons you should quit are:
1) For your physical health benefits
2) Smoking can cause you to urinate your medications out
3) Smoking breaks down the effectiveness of your medication
Now, it is time for me to give you some sound advice on how to overcome smoking cigarettes. The advice that I will dispense to you is the advice that applied to myself. If you consistently apply this advice to yourself, every moment of every day, you will be able to quit in God's time. The first passage of Scripture I'd like to draw your attention to comes from Matthew 14:22-33, which says the following,
"22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[a] from the land,[b] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night[c] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”"
As you can see from this text, as long as Peter was keeping his on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water toward Him. However, the very instant he took his eyes off Christ, he began to sink. When I read three different life applications to this passage. The first application, see is that just like Peter, we need to always keep our eyes on Jesus. This is vitally important because as soon as we look at the evil around us, we will inevitably sink. Our enemy is always looking for ways to cause us to look away from Jesus, but we must not succumb to sin. The second life application I see from this text is knowing that Jesus is always in control of everything that comes to pass. I am sure that you noticed how as soon as Jesus entered the boat, the wind and waves ceased. This is how powerful our God is. Nature listened to the God-Man. Isn't that fascinating? I think so. The third life application I see from this text is that Jesus is merciful when we fall into sin or when we take our eyes off Him. He should have left Peter to drown to death, but that is not what He did whatsoever. In actuality, He reached out His hand to rescue Peter. Jesus is doing the same for us who are addicted to smoking cigarettes. He does not condemn us, but He does want to set us free from anything that is holding us hostage. We just need to grab his hand that is reaching out to us.
Finally, the next passage that I'd like to draw your attention to is commonly called the Parable of the Persistent Widow and we can find it in Luke 18:1-8. It says the following,
"18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
As you can see from this text, the widow never ceased bothering the judge to fulfill her request. The text does not how many days she bothered him, but the point is that she never stopped. In other words, she begged him. This is actually the very thing that has helped me to quit smoking. I know that this may sound strange, or even pathetic, but it really did benefit. We should not think of ourselves as too good to beg God. He wants us to depend on Him wholeheartedly and He has ways of humbling us if we are too prideful. In my life, I got to the point where I decided that I was not too great to beg God. I literally would beg God every day and every minute of every day that He would take away my craving for cigarettes. I did not make any promises to God because I already knew that I would break them. No, instead, I just literally looked into the sky and begged the Father to cause me to quit. I did this literally every day and finally, He answered my prayers. I was basically the Persistent Widow, but God is a righteous Judge who granted me my request simply because He is good.
I hope that this blog gives you hope that one day you will be able to quit smoking. If you do not ever quit smoking, that is fine too because you're not condemned either way. However, if you do quit, it will greatly benefit your health. If you think you are someone who is not capable of quitting, trust me, my closest friends thought the same of me too. As matter of fact, my brother, Joseph McDermott, told me that he would always tell his wife that he does not think that I will ever quit. Also, I am sure my brother, Joe Roman, thought the same thing after he gave up on trying to get me to vape instead, So, if anyone deserves God to cause them to quit smoking it would not be me. However, I am thankful that the Lord has healed me from my addictions. Soli Deo Gloria!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
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