The Plague of Addiction

"Addiction doesn't seem to care about socioeconomics, political persuasion, the religious or ungodly, whether you're rich or poor, famous or unknown, educated or illiterate, prince or pauper."
                       Vai Sikahema is the Sports Director and Anchor for NBC10 Philadelphia. He is a two-time All-Pro, two-time Emmy Award winner and was a member of BYU's 1984 National Championship team.

After reading this quote in an article recently and having lived with an addict for several years I'm once again astounded by the power of addiction.  There are so many in this world who fight addictions, some more obvious than others, but all as equally destructive.  The amazing aspect of addictions is it seems to be the only real thing that can take away someone's "Agency."  
I have had a long learning curve dealing with agency, but I'm beginning to understand more and more about it.  I always wanted to be able to pray and have the Lord make someone change their ways.  I had Faith and it seemed simple enough to me that after much fasting and prayer our righteous desires should be answered.   I have finally been taught that the Lord WILL NOT take away someone's agency.  He can provide experiences and we can pray that these experiences will cause someone to have a desire to change, but He will not make them change.  That was Satan's plan to force people to obey and that is not the Plan we voted for, fought for, and are living today.  
Isn't that interesting that Addictions can and will take away that Agency.  People lose the ability to choose when the addictions take over their lives.  Obviously this must be Satan's new plan since the last one failed.
The Lord will be there when addicts desire to change-- to support them and love them continually, but those afflicted have to be the one to ask for that help.  He loves them just as we love them and He is patiently waiting for them to turn to Him.  He is stronger than the addiction!!