One More

In his book, “Depression: Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness,” Edward T. Weich talks about the culture of self-indulgence. He writes, “The myth is that “one more” will finally bring satisfaction. The reality, of course, is that it just leaves us with a desire for two more, and then three, because we find out that one didn’t satisfy.” (pg 102). Welch is talking about how the culture of self-indulgence contributes to depression. However, as I read this my mind gravitated toward addiction. From my experiences this is a great description of an addiction. Addiction and depression frequently co-occur in a complex, two-way cycle. People often use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate depressive symptoms like sadness and low energy. However, these substances chemically alter brain function, ultimately worsening depression and making both conditions harder to treat.

Think about the addict/alcoholic that thinks one will be enough. I used to think this all the time. I’ll have just one to take the edge off. But one, led to two, three, six, twelve. One never satisfied. In fact, twelve didn’t either. Ecclesiastes 6:7 states, “Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.” The appetite of an addict is never satisfied by whatever they choose to fill themselves with. Drugs, alcohol, shopping, eating, sex, none of it truly satisfies. Therefore, we continue to chase just “one more” but never being filled. This is the point of Step 1. “We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable.” Just one more! But one more never satisfied our hunger, it never quenched our thirst.  So, we are caught in a continuous cycle of just one more. 

Our self-indulgence will never satisfy us. We will always be chasing after more. However, there is an answer to the madness. Answer that will provide us with the satisfaction we long for. The answer is Jesus. There is a wonderful story found in John 4:4-26. The story is about a Samaritan woman who met Jesus at a well outside the city. There are several lessons we can learn from this story, but, for now, I will focus on one. In verse 13, Jesus answers one of the woman’s questions by saying to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus is talking about the water within the well not being enough to satisfy the thirst of those who drink from it. They will always return for more water. Like chasing after “one more.” But Jesus doesn’t leave it with that. He adds that what He gives will satisfy the “one more” chase. Jesus is the answer to our self-indulgence. Self-indulgence is never going to satisfy the thirst within us. Only Jesus can. Yes, self-indulgence might temporarily satisfy our chase to be filled, but before long we’ll be on the quest for “one more.” Our quest for Jesus will end the cycle of chasing “one more.”