Can Ian Thorpe change?
Ian Thorpe, Australia’s greatest Olympic swimmer (with five gold medals) is currently in hospital with what is reported to be “crippling depression”. He was found by police wandering around the Sydney suburb of Picnic Point, in the middle of the night, in a confused state of mind (see SMH article).
In his 2012 autobiography This is me, Thorpe admitted that he had at times considered suicide and confessed to drinking huge quantities of alcohol to deal with his crippling depression (1). In the SMH article Thorpe’s manager was quoted as saying ‘‘[He needs to find something that will] give him the same type of satisfaction [as swimming]."
Is it possible for Ian Thorpe to get back on his feet? Will he be able to overcome his depression and reliance on alcohol and be able to lead a contented, fulfilled life? And not just in the short term, but over the many years of his (hopefully) long life? We here at City Bible Forum certainly hope so and will be praying for his recovery.
It raises the question for all of us who struggle with life’s challenges, disappointments, our own mental demons, addictions and our DNA with its predisposed weaknesses…. can we change for the better or are we trapped in the steel cases of who we are?
You might be someone who is starting 2014 with a strong desire to lose some weight. But you know that you love sugary food too much and you feel pessimistic about your chances of changing your eating habits. You might not be happy with some aspect of your personality (maybe anger or sarcasm) which causes you trouble in relationships at work or at home. Maybe you have a porn addiction which you are ashamed of? You wish you could change and be different but aren’t sure whether it’s possible or where to start?
What does the Bible say about all this? Does it give us any hope of change, of progress?
Definitely yes! Christians believe that the Spirit of Jesus Christ is able to come and take residence in you and give you power for self control, love, purity and more (Galatians 5:22-23). Through the knowledge of Jesus Christ you can have power to take off the old self and to put on a new self (Colossians 3:9-10).
The Bible doesn’t promise that you will be totally free of struggling or that you won’t occasionally stumble back into old habits, but it is the testimony of many Christians, that over time, progress can be made for the better. See for example this You tube interview with Penny Wilkinson. Penny has found strength to be sober, in Christ. She recognises that being an alcoholic is part of her brain chemistry but she also knows that she has been freed from it’s destructive consequences through the power of having Jesus Christ in her life.
Jesus can change you too. He can make a difference in your life. Why not give him a go and pray that he might come into your life to help you make progress with whatever you are struggling with.
