Beyond the Haze

“Mom, I don’t feel very good . . .” Meghan looked pale and feverish.

“Honey, why don’t you take a warm bath? It’ll help you feel better,” Amanda said. Her daughter shuffled to the bathroom, and Amanda heard water gush from the bathtub faucet. She stepped into Meghan’s room and began straightening her sheets, smoothing the pillows, and plumping them up to be comfortable for Meghan when she returned.

As Amanda lifted one of the pillows, a small cylindrical object caught her attention. Curiosity piqued, she reached for the tube and looked it over—panic dawning as she realized it was a vape (or electronic cigarette). My child? She thought. Why and how has she gotten into vaping? She knows better . . . plus, she’s a minor! How did she get the vape? The alarming discovery led to some very important conversations and helped establish clear boundaries and expectations for their home and family.

Unfortunately, this scenario is not unusual. Everywhere you look—on the street, online, even in schools—vaping and marijuana use are becoming more common, even in children as young as 11 years old. To many, these habits seem harmless, trendy, or even healthy alternatives to cigarettes. But beneath the smoke and vapor, deeper truths remain. Why do people turn to these substances? Why are they harmful not only physically but spiritually? And what can we do when someone we love is caught in this struggle?

Why Do People Vape or Use Marijuana?

People often turn to vaping or marijuana for such reasons as:

Curiosity and Peer Pressure: Friends may introduce it as “cool” or harmless.

Stress and Escape: Many use it to dull emotional pain or anxiety.

Searching for Belonging: Substances can create a sense of community, although it is often false and fleeting.

Misinformation: Ads and social media sometimes promote vaping or cannabis as safe or “natural.”

At the root, people are often seeking peace, comfort, or identity—needs that ultimately point to a deeper spiritual hunger only God can really satisfy.

Why Is It Harmful?

Studies show that vaping or using e-cigarettes damages the lungs, weakens immunity, and can even affect brain development in young people.[*] Addiction to nicotine or chemicals can form quickly. Regular marijuana use impairs memory, concentration, and motivation. It can affect mental health, increasing risks of anxiety, paranoia, and depression.

True freedom is found, not in clouds of vapor or marijuana’s haze, but in the clear, life-giving presence of Jesus Christ.

These are not “harmless” habits. They can chain the body and mind to cycles of dependence.

Scripture reminds us: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Cor. 6:19). Choosing substances that cloud judgment or damage health dishonors the God who gave us life. These substances can numb the heart to God’s voice, dulling spiritual sensitivity. Instead of turning to Christ for peace, people begin to lean on artificial highs. True freedom is found in Christ, not in chemicals that mask pain or momentarily boost pleasure.

What if You Discover a Loved One Using?

Pray First: Ask God for wisdom, compassion, and the right words.

Approach With Love, Not Condemnation: Harsh judgment may push them away. Instead, show concern for both their physical and spiritual health.

Listen: Ask what they are feeling, why they started, and what they hope to find in it.

Encourage Professional and Spiritual Support: Medical help, counseling, and pastoral guidance, if they’re open to it, can be powerful together.

Walk Alongside Them: Offer accountability, encouragement, and reminders of God’s grace. Change is rarely instant—it requires patience.

As God’s people, we are called to shine light into a world clouded by Satan’s lies. We need to teach people that their worth is found not in substances but in Christ. We can support ministries that bring hope to those battling addiction. Model healthy, Spirit-filled living that testifies to the joy of a life surrendered to God. Above all, hold on to the promise: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). True freedom is found, not in clouds of vapor or the haze of marijuana, but in the clear, life-giving presence of Jesus Christ.

Here are some online resources for you or a family member who may be struggling with nicotine addiction:

https://www.breathefree2.com: a proven smoking-cessation program, offered free of charge.

https://www.tobaccofreekids.org: a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children and preventing tobacco use in all forms.

https://www.adventistrecoveryglobal.org: a ministry dedicated to helping people find freedom from addiction and harmful habits.

[*] Aleks Kalininskiy et al., “E-cigarette Exposures, Respiratory Tract Infections, and Impaired Innate Immunity: A Narrative Review,” Pediatric Medicine (Hong Kong, China) 4 (2021): 5, doi:10.21037/pm-20-97, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8177080/, accessed Nov. 10, 2025.