SEX ADDICTION!
It’s out there now. I said it. The addiction controlling between 6% - 8% of Americans (roughly 24 million people according to the Mayo Clinic). A silent killer of marriages, family, relationships, mental health, self-confidence and more. Seems like a personal problem. Should we care? And should we care if someone famous admits to suffering from it? I would argue yes.
Two years ago, Bears star cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s on-field efforts were acknowledged with a big contract, re-signing with the Bears for 4-years, $76 million. Certainly a well-deserved raise after making his first Pro-Bowl the season before, and what he said to open his congratulatory press conference still rings in my head. So much so, I felt the need to recount what happened.
“First and formost I want to thank Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, I would say for dying for my sins, allowing me to have everlasting life. None of what I have or done is because of me, but because of what I have been blessed with. I've been blessed when I didn't deserve it. He is the reason for this season. In high school, I got Proverbs 3:16 tattooed on my arm “Commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed”. I have come to understand what that means and what that looks like. As I got older, I put myself out there to grow in my spirit and in my mind. I went to therapy last season for sexual addiction. That was the hardest thing for me to open up to my therapist about, as that is something nobody knew about.”
The reaction to this opening statement caught my ear. This was supposed to be an all-positive, all “congrats”, easy presser, but Jaylon offered this up on his own accord. I thought for sure it would be instantly asked about by the media, but it was not until minute 16 of the 21-minute presser that a follow-up question was asked. The man just mentioned he had to seek help for a sex addiction, and it had to wait until the altar of sports had consumed their sacrifice. However, once it was addressed, the media and audience missed the point and then moved on, which leads us to why I’m revisiting it.
Everyone mentioned Jaylon getting help, but not the source and reason why he sought that help, and he mentioned it at the very start.
First and formost I want to thank Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, I would say for dying for my sins, allowing me to have everlasting life. None of what I have or done is because of me, but because of what I have been blessed with. I've been blessed when I didn't deserve it. He is the reason for this season. In high school, I got Proverbs 3:16 tattooed on my arm “Commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed”. I have come to understand what that means and what that looks like.
Jaylon has placed his faith and trust in the finished work and life of Jesus.
Maybe it’s been said so much we’ve ignored it, or it has no meaning for the sporting world, or maybe we didn’t believe him, but there’s a reason he started with it. The Bible verse he referenced is taken from Proverbs, a book of wisdom, written from a father's perspective to his son. In a moment that was meant to be his glory, he turned it into a moment of reflection. Even while living his dream and reaching success, Jaylon is giving glory and honor to Jesus. But what comes with submitting your life to Him is not easy; He requires your whole life. Picking up your cross, the thing that you struggle with, and giving it to Him, since He took the cross for us. Committing your actions to him requires honesty and openness. This is what we saw from Jaylon. The reason he went to therapy was a real conviction of the heart and a deep hole in his life that sex was not fulfilling.
There is a scripture that speaks to this.
1 Corinthians 6:13b:
“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."
The use of our bodies matters to God. Sexual addiction is a quiet killer, and most never break free from its grasp. In his opening statement, Jaylon attributes his own life, the good and the bad, as a testimony to God’s grace, his mercy, and his deliverance from an addiction that has engulfed and shattered lives.
What we missed as sports consumers is a deep message of forgiveness, grace, and mercy that we can all have. Whatever our weakness is, we can confidently bring it to Jesus, and in Him we can find the peace we need to take on any issues we face. Jaylon seems to have found that peace.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Jesus
