Dear Student,
I can see that you’re in a rut, which makes me happy. Your ways these past few weeks have turned dark. Your path before these dark weeks had been a path of lightness, which I did not like at all. I can see the pattern of your addiction, and this causes me to question who you really are. Who are you, Student? For weeks, you’ll walk the light path with charity and brightness in your heart. These weeks you seem to be happiest, though it’s still not enough, is it? Student, you never seem to be happy or content, even when you’re sober. It seems as if you always want more, even when you have as much as you need. Why is this the case with you, Student? Aren’t you tired of going back and forth from light to dark and dark to light? This routine has to be exhausting for you. Why don’t you just quit God’s ways altogether and come my way? My way is the easy way, Student! You won’t have to try anymore. You won’t have to work on yourself as much. You won’t need to read your scriptures, attend church, or help people anymore. You won’t have to be reading about Christ or praying anymore. And anyway, Student, my substances will actually help you to be a better father and husband, which means your example to your children will be automatic instead of forced.
I play possum with all of my clients, Student, but I especially play it with you. I see how bad you want to be rid of my addictive substances. I also see how hard you work to stay on God’s path. My work is more rewarding when I cause you to fall away, which is why I often lay low for a time and just wait for the perfect opportunity to strike.
That one particular day a few weeks back when I put the idea in your mind to take a few Percocets for back pain has slowly led you into my shadows once again. I had you convinced that it was no big deal and that you needed them for a little back soreness. What started out with plans of only taking two eventually led to taking eight in a single night’s time. You tried to only take two that night, but you loved the heightened attitude Opiate provided, so you ended up chasing that feeling for the remainder of the night, which, in the end, proved to be a total letdown and failure. You should know better by now that this chase never amounts to anything but irritability, heartache, and depression. Even I was impressed with how far you went that night. You had been doing so well in the months previous, and I was not expecting that kind of intensity. It just goes to show that my substances are powerful, and no matter how long you go without, their grips are embedded deep within your mind.
It’s interesting how you are quick to forget about the irritability and negativity that accompanies Opiate use. You also seem to be quick to forget about the so-called beautiful ways of God, which is why you keep coming back down my path. I’m so glad that you are quick to forget, because if you weren’t, then my game wouldn’t exist. And since my game is temporary pleasure, the memory proves to be a powerful tool for me and my team in leading you back time and time again.
Student, are you going to be able to get out of my rut this time? You have succeeded many times in the past, but maybe this time is different. Maybe this time you’ll just quit and forever come my way. I realize that the power of God is great and that His way does bring lasting peace if you can endure. But can you endure long enough? That is the question. His ways are slow to develop; my ways are quick and immediate. My ways will push your problems aside, helping you to coast through life. His ways will bring your problems towards you with hopes that a learning experience will take form. He thinks that by you dealing with adversity through a clear lens, you will actually learn and progress as a human being. I guess that makes sense to a point, but why not take the edge off while learning at the same time? You don’t need to be sober all of the time to learn, Student. Let Opiate help you to overcome your weaknesses and fears. Opiate will give you a great amount of courage, and there has to be a learning experience in that, right?
The decision is yours, Student. You do have the freedom to choose, because that was God’s plan from the beginning, not mine. If it had been up to me, you would have had no choice but to follow after me. I don’t like free agency, which is why I’m so adamant about using Opiate to steal your free agency. I want you to be trapped by Opiate; I want you to get sick when you don’t have Opiate; I want you to steal for Opiate; I want you to get in trouble because of Opiate; I want you to go to jail because of Opiate; I want to steal all of your free agency through the use of Opiate. Again, free agency was not my plan, and because of my prideful ways, I’m still looking to make my plan come to pass. What better way for me to succeed than through the use of my best friend, Opiate?
Your Fake Friend,
The Devil
