Obsessed with video games? There’s a way out, and it’s easier than you might think. Willpower isn’t reliable, but God’s power is.

Video games have come a long way since Pong and Space Invaders. Today’s games are complex, exciting, and require a degree of skill to play well. Most people who play video games don’t have a problem with them. Even if someone becomes obsessed with a new game for a while, their lives are generally in balance. But a growing group of people have lost that balance and are suffering because of it.

Video-game addiction has been around for a while, yet it doesn’t draw much media attention. Younger people seem particularly at risk, though plenty of adults are affected, too. What starts off as innocent fun begins to detract from the quality of an active life.

It’s not uncommon for addicted players to stay at their computers for unhealthy chunks of time, even for days. An addict will sometimes forgo school, work, and a social life to play games. Relationships get pushed to the side as the player spends more and more time in front of a computer.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with this type of addiction, complete freedom can be won by turning to God. To get at the heart of what’s going on here, it’s important to ask what the game seems to be doing for the addicted person. Do the feelings of accomplishment that one gets from winning or getting a high score act as substitutes for a lack of such feelings in everyday life?

If you’re addicted to video games, you may feel euphoric when playing. The problem is that this euphoria is only temporary, and it doesn’t really provide true satisfaction. And it can be hard to give up the appearance of personal success. Video games may promise self-worth and satisfaction, yet that’s a fraudulent promise. Artificial fun is minute as compared to God’s genuine goodness, worth, and satisfaction.

A person’s efforts to overcome addiction of any kind are more effective when they have a spiritual basis. Willpower—humanly forcing yourself to stop playing—is not enough, because it can’t destroy the longings that led to the addiction in the first place.

But if you’re willing to pray your way out of the compulsion, genuine freedom is possible. As a first step, it’s empowering to gain some understanding of who God really is and who you really are. Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, described God as “the great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence” (Science and Health, p. 587). And the Bible makes clear that each of us is God’s image and likeness. That gives us genuine worth because it means we all have intelligence, love, wisdom, beauty, strength, and other wonderful spiritual qualities. That’s who we really are, and this is the basis for genuine success in real life.

I know many people who have found freedom from addictive behavior by trusting these ideas. But breaking the grip of the unhealthy attraction to video games or other addictive behavior isn’t always easy. Even when you’ve been able to stop for a while, the habit may keep pulling at you.

Christian Science provides a solid place to stand on in dealing with that pull. Mary Baker Eddy wrote: “There is but one real attraction, that of Spirit. The pointing of the needle to the pole symbolizes this all-embracing power or the attraction of God, divine Mind” (Science and Health, p. 102). This freedom is something anyone can achieve. By embracing the spiritual qualities God has given us, we find joys that are real and more satisfying than a momentary, false sense of pleasure.

God’s care and love are the real substance of living. There’s nothing more enjoyable and satisfying than feeling and living God’s love. The Bible says of God, “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (Prov. 8:20, 21).

How does God fill our treasures—show love for us and answer prayer? By changing our thoughts and perspectives. Since our thinking embraces and determines what we experience, a closer acquaintance with God’s love helps us feel that love, no matter where we are.

And the way to tell if what we’re feeling is genuine is by whether it turns you inward or fills you with love for yourself and for others.

God has created each of us spiritual and perfect. “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good,” says the Bible (Gen. 1:31). That includes everyone, no exceptions. Destructive, addictive behaviors are no part of the man of God’s creating—that’s you and me, no matter what our gender may be. We are each God’s idea, spiritually sound and morally strong, innately addiction-free.

Acknowledging these facts—and sticking to them—is effective prayer. Turning to God consistently gives us strength to overcome the tendency to think compulsively about video games, or anything else. To get things clear and balanced, and to become more interested in God and God’s spiritual creation, is vital. Loving God and acknowledging that God loves you, and always will, doesn’t have to be hard, although it can take some mental self-discipline. You’ll discover your true worth as you accept the idea that each of us is deeply cherished by God, simply for who we are as God’s sons and daughters. You don’t have to earn God’s love. As God’s creation, you are meant to bask in it, always.

The clearer you become in your love for God, the more real truth and spiritual reality become to you. Mary Baker Eddy described the process perfectly: “If divine Love is becoming nearer, dearer, and more real to us, matter is then submitting to Spirit” (Science and Health, p. 239:18-20).

Addiction must submit to Spirit. There is no worldly power that can stand up to the power of our Father-Mother God. As we persist, inappropriate attractions fall away, and our lives are more constructive, productive, and unselfish. Reflecting God’s love and feeling great love for God, for divine Love, brings this force to bear on your thought and experience. The result always is freedom and healing.