Not only can we fall into pornography, but we can become it. It is one of the only addictions you can become. By sending inappropriate photos, you have allowed someone to lust after your body. Fight the lies that surround this form of pornography. Fight the lie that says it is safe. That it is a perfectly fine way of sexual release. That you are not contracting an STD, that you won't get pregnant, and that you are not actually having sex, so it's fine. It's fine. It is not fine. It will slowly start to take over your life. Your dreams and goals will all start to be gripped by this part of your life that is lived in secret. That they will become slaves to it. You will lose sleep, your work will start to slip, your relationships will start to disintegrate. You will try to fill an infinite hole in your heart with something of this world, something never meant to fill it. It will be hard because now it is not the world's problem, but your own. You can blame others for the hurt they caused you, for the lies they told you, for the boy who left you, but it is not their problem, it is yours. But there is hope. There is always hope. You are more than pixels on a screen, you are more than the reflection in someone's eyes and the lusting of their heart. Your face was not formed for mindless double taps and glazed over swipes. Your body was not created for lustful eyes to pick and choose what they like, determining your value. You are a beating heart, a joyous being, a loving personality. You deserve a real love, a love that cherishes you, where you can feel safe, where you can be loved for not just your body, but for your heart, soul, and mind.
You are not alone. Statistics will tell you this, pastors will tell you this, I tell you this, yet you will still feel alone. That is how sin operates. It isolates. It drenches you in darkness, it makes you feel so far gone that no one could ever rescue you. And that is where I invite you to hear the good news of Jesus. That no matter how far gone you may feel Jesus will reach His arm down into that dark, damp, dirty crevice you have been dwelling in and rescue you. He will comfort you, forgive you, and He won't let you live there. He will drag you out as long as your heart is willing. It will not be easy, for freedom is never an easy road, but it is worth fighting for. He says come. Come, those who are imprisoned. Come, those who are carrying heavy burdens. Come, those who are hurting. Come, those who have felt the sting of arrows piercing their heart. Come, those who prayer was not spoken over. Come, those who were excluded and told they have no place. I will give you rest. You are not your sin, God has created you for so much more. This is not your title, this is not your identity, this is not the root of who you are. Do not try and carry that weight. You are a sweet treasure of the Lord. You are His child whom He loves with His whole heart.
Jesus is the only way out of this. By your own strength, you will never escape. Allow Jesus to fight this battle for you. Allow Him to rip those chains that bind you, but also, make sure you have people to come alongside you. That will help fight for you. That will encourage you. That won't let you stay where you are. Discipleship at its finest. Finally, allow God to restore you. Just like the woman caught in the adultress act, Jesus did not condemn her, He allowed room for restoration, He showed her her value. As Christians, we need to remind people of their value. We are marching for it, reading for it, voting for it, preaching for it, but let's just do it. Have those tough conversations, speak those kind words, love them enough to meet them right where they are at, but don't let them stay there.