The following post was written by Jacob Way.

One of the ways pornography enslaves us is that we simply don’t talk about it. It’s crazy, something so omnipresent, but we are all too scared to bring it up. Whether it is our pride, shame, or fear, we allow pornography to enslave each of us alone. But this is exactly what the enemy wants.

“Sin thrives in secrecy.“

Sin thrives in secrecy. Just think about when you were a kid and wanted to do something you weren’t supposed to. If you wanted to raid the freezer and eat some popsicles, even though your mom said not to, you first waited until you were alone. Then you sneaked into the garage. Before opening the freezer, you looked around one more time to ensure that no one was watching. Then, you devoured the popsicle and hid the evidence to avoid getting caught.

The same is true with pornography. To indulge, you have to seclude yourself. You cut off contact with friends and family. You are alone. You look around, make sure no one is watching, and find ways to destroy the evidence afterward.

Knowing this, why do we continue to struggle in secrecy? There is shame and pride, of course, but secrecy allows sin to continue. Secrecy is the environment where sin thrives.

One reason porn addiction lingers so long is we are fighting it alone. It’s crazy. Something that is so pervasive, and we convince ourselves that we are the only ones struggling. Ironically, most men and women who struggle with porn believe no one else is. Isolated and alone, they remain slaves.

If someone just admitted their struggle to someone else, it would shatter this illusion. That’s why sharing your story is so impactful. The more we talk about it, the more people realize they aren’t the only ones struggling. Sometimes all we need to be vulnerable is to know someone else is fighting the same battle. Then, instead of being addicts, separated and alone, we can be addicts fighting for recovery together. 

If you’re looking for a book to help in the battle against pornography, check out Hope to Win the War, by Jacob Way.