Spiritual Stockholm Syndrome

1 Corinthians 10:1-6

Breaking Free from Unhealthy Attachments

Have you ever found yourself clinging to old habits, destructive patterns, or unhealthy relationships, even when you know they're not good for you? This phenomenon, which we might call "spiritual Stockholm syndrome," is more common than we'd like to admit. Just as hostages can develop an unhealthy attachment to their captors, we too can become attached to the very things that hold us back spiritually.

The story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt provides a powerful illustration of this concept. Time and again, God delivered them from slavery and invited them to freedom in the Promised Land. Yet repeatedly, we see them grumbling and longing to return to Egypt. "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt!" they cried. "There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

It's easy to shake our heads at the Israelites' lack of faith, but how often do we exhibit the same behavior? When faced with challenges or uncertainties, do we trust in God's provision, or do we yearn for the familiar comforts of our past, even if they were ultimately harmful?

Breaking free from spiritual Stockholm syndrome requires us to recognize our tendency to revert to old ways and make a conscious choice to trust in God instead.

Here are three key strategies we can employ:

1. Engage in Honest Questioning, Not Grumbling

There's a crucial difference between bringing our honest questions and concerns to God and grumbling against Him. Honest questioning sounds like, "God, I'm scared. I don't understand what's happening. Can you help me?" Grumbling, on the other hand, questions God's character and goodness: "God, you don't know what you're doing. I can't trust you."

The Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations are full of examples of honest questioning. God welcomes our real, hard questions. It's when we fail to ask these questions and instead put our faith in human leaders or emotional experiences that we set ourselves up for a crisis of faith.

2. Seek God as Your Daily Bread

In Exodus 16, we see God providing manna for the Israelites in the wilderness. This heavenly bread was a daily provision, teaching the people to rely on God day by day. Jesus later referenced this story when He declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Just as we need physical food daily, we need to feed on God's Word and presence every day. This isn't about yearly, monthly, or even weekly nourishment – it's about daily sustenance. Start your day by reading God's Word, writing down a verse that stands out, praying into that scripture, and sharing it with others. This practice allows the Holy Spirit to speak to you and nourish you supernaturally throughout your day.

3. Drink from the Living Water

In Exodus 17, we see God providing water from a rock for the thirsty Israelites. This story points forward to Jesus, who declared Himself to be the source of living water. "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink," He said. "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

When we're facing difficult circumstances, it's tempting to try to "dig our own wells" – to seek satisfaction and solutions in worldly pursuits, whether that's through work, pleasure, substances, or the pursuit of status and power. But these self-made cisterns are broken and can't hold water. Only by coming to Jesus can we find true satisfaction and purpose.

The challenge for many of us is that we've become so accustomed to relying on our own resources or worldly solutions that we struggle to fully trust in God. We might spend hours scrolling through social media, obsessing over fantasy football, or shopping for things we don't need, but then wonder why our spiritual life feels dry when we only give God a few minutes a day.

To break free from spiritual Stockholm syndrome, we need to reallocate our time and energy. This doesn't mean we can never enjoy worldly pleasures or seek advice from friends, but it does mean that God should be our primary source of help, healing, and purpose.

Remember, you can't serve two masters. You'll either serve your old captors – whether that's addiction, materialism, or anything else that enslaves you – or you'll serve the Lord. The good news is that Jesus has already paid the ransom to set you free. As Matthew 20:28 tells us, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So today, ask yourself: In what ways have I experienced spiritual Stockholm syndrome? How can I bring my honest questions to God instead of grumbling? How can I make God's Word my daily bread? And how can I rely more on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than my own abilities?

Breaking free from unhealthy attachments isn't easy, but it's possible when we turn to God. He is enough – more than enough. As we learn to trust Him day by day, we'll find the freedom and purpose we've been longing for. And not only will we be blessed, but we'll become a channel of blessing to others, allowing the living water to flow through us and impact the world around us.

Let's pray for the courage to let go of our spiritual captors and embrace the freedom that God offers. May we, like the Psalmist, be able to say, "Jireh, you are enough. Forever enough, always enough, more than enough."