30/07/2025
Addiction is a topic I have wanted to write about for a long time, especially since moving to North America. For years, I felt no release to write about it, maybe because it’s a subject loaded with feelings, hurt, and emotions, and because one way of thinking does not apply to everyone struggling with it.
I once jokingly told someone that over 90% of people in North America are addicts. The person quickly disagreed. I explained that while some addictions are to substances society labels as “bad,” like drugs or alcohol, many others are to things that seem harmless. Yet addiction is addiction, regardless of the substance or activity.
For example, people can be addicted to almost anything—food, social media, television. I think I’m addicted to rice; others are addicted to tea, soda, chocolate, or countless other things. But today, I want to talk about the widely worshipped drink: COFFEE. Yes, I said it, lols, the elephant in the room.
Coffee is one addiction people are actually proud of. It wears a crown, and many bow to its power. Some people can’t even brush their teeth before they have their morning cup. For many, coffee is non-negotiable. I kid you not, if coffee disappeared from the earth, some would feel life wasn’t worth living. I have heard many foolish sayings disguised as wise sayings. "What is life without a morning cup of coffee?" What!!! So life is incomplete without coffee? Pause and think about how that sounds.
I personally don’t take coffee, and here’s why:
I hate the taste. I’ve always wondered why something bitter is so loved (the same way I feel about beer - I tasted it as a kid and swore that I would never take it). I have a sweet tooth—if it’s not sweet, don’t bring it near me.
It's addictive power.
I noticed how powerful its grip is just by how people talk about it and act without it. In morning meetings, if someone seems drowsy, the first question is, “Have you had your coffee yet?” I once mentioned in a work meeting that I don’t drink coffee, and everyone looked at me as if I was lying. They probably thought, How can she be so energetic without coffee? The truth is, I’m naturally energetic in the mornings. I greet loudly, share hugs, crack jokes, and spread positivity. Someone once told me my energy is contagious—I told them it’s the power of the Holy Spirit.
However, I did experience coffee’s pull once. I tried an iced latte loaded with sugar, syrup, and ice, which made it bearable to drink. Even though I didn’t like it, I found myself craving it daily. I would sit at my desk, feeling unsettled, until I had that latte. That’s when I knew something was wrong—how could I get addicted to something I hated? How na?
I didn’t waste time. I turned to a spiritual discipline I knew would break the addiction fast, and you guessed right, that was fasting. I refused to eat until after lunchtime, and soon, the craving disappeared. Some may think that’s extreme since coffee isn’t inherently harmful, but I refused to be controlled by something as small as a cup of bitter liquid. I also realized that if I could easily be addicted to something “good,” I could just as easily fall into addiction to something “bad.” I always remember this verse in my favourite book, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.
I live surrounded by some coffee drinkers, so this is not an attack on them. My husband drinks coffee occasionally, but my kids and I are tea people. I’ve taught my children to avoid it, not because coffee is evil, but because I don’t want them enslaved by it—and luckily, they also think it’s bitter. So its a win guys.
The point is, coffee itself isn’t bad, but anything that takes God’s place in your life becomes an idol. If you’re a Christian who cannot go a day without coffee but can go days without praying, coffee might be an idol. If you have never fasted because you “need” coffee in the morning, it might be an idol. If you believe coffee gives you more strength than Jesus does, it has become an idol—just as food or even your phone can.
I remember once intending to clean my room—a task I dislike—when I felt strongly that the Holy Spirit was prompting me to do it. I got up, walked into my room, and instead of cleaning, I started scrolling through my phone. I stumbled on a video where a lady said, “Get up and clean your room.” I burst out laughing, obeyed immediately, and even ended up cleaning my bathroom. Still, I felt bad that God had to send me that message through a video, because my phone had my attention before He did.
So, why am I writing this? Simply because God wants to be first in your life. He doesn’t want to share that space with alcohol, ni****ne, cannabis, or even coffee.
Anything that takes God’s place—no matter how harmless it looks—can become an idol.
Ronke Taiwo
July 30, 2025
