--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're losing the battle against a…" description: "\"If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-fail..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/rick-warren-230_addiction_if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-pe_3033278.png" --- # If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad… ![“If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own. You need the help of other people. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner…” quote by Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/rick-warren-230_addiction_if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-pe_3033278.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/rick-warren-230_addiction_if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-pe_3033278.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/rick-warren-230_addiction_if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-pe_3033278.png) > “If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own. You need the help of other people. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.” [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overcoming addiction requires community support; personal effort alone often fails. **In simple terms:** You need help to beat bad habits. Key Takeaway Seek accountability partners. Themes addiction support accountability Mood hopeful determined Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - recovery groups - therapy - faith based support - peer mentoring Key Concepts community behavior change Questions to Reflect On - Who can you trust for honest accountability? - How does shared struggle reduce guilt? A Different Perspective Relying solely on willpower can lead to relapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Addiction Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction-temptation-2106473/) [Bad habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) [Bad habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habits/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Cycles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycles/) [Get better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-better/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Overcome Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome-help-4795162/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Partners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partners/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistent/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Praying for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying-for-you/) [Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuck/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Temptation Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation-stuck-4965029/) [Temptations Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptations-overcome-4965030/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Your smile lights up the world Your eyes are my ocean Your laugh is my drug Your lips are my addiction But then again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole/your-smile-lights-up-the-world-your-eyes-are-my-ocean-your-laugh-is/) [Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole/) > [“Yes we all have despair but we also all have the power within us to overcome it and to help others overcome it to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/yes-we-all-have-despair-but-we-also-all-have-the-power-within-us-to/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Now you pray, and I'm going to pray for you that the Lord will speak to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/now-you-pray-and-i-m-going-to-pray-for-you-that-the-lord-will-speak/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [And as it turns out, if one person is praying for you, buckle up. Things can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-as-it-turns-out-if-one-person-is-praying-for-you-buckle-up-things/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Just because they say they're praying for you in your face, doesn't mean they aren't laughing at your struggle behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-shelton/just-because-they-say-they-re-praying-for-you-in-your-face-doesn-t/) [Trent Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-shelton/) > [Fossey, Fossey, you cranky difficult strong-arming self-destructive misanthrope, mediocre scientist, deceiver of earnest college students, probable cause of more deaths of the gorillas than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/fossey-fossey-you-cranky-difficult-strong-arming-self-destructive/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [I am also praying for you, my beloved partner. God has a miracle breakthrough for your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-am-also-praying-for-you-my-beloved-partner-god-has-a-miracle/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/pray-for-powers-equal-to-your-tasks/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Answered prayers are scary. They imply responsibility. You asked for it. Now that you've got it, what are you going to do? Why else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/answered-prayers-are-scary-they-imply-responsibility-you-asked-for-it/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [I'd like to address the people of Flint. Your families face a crisis. A crisis you did not create and could not have prevented.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-snyder/i-d-like-to-address-the-people-of-flint-your-families-face-a-crisis-a/) [Rick Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-snyder/) > [The only advice that I know to give is to pray for your leaders. Whether you like it or not, we have a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colton-dixon/the-only-advice-that-i-know-to-give-is-to-pray-for-your-leaders/) [Colton Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colton-dixon/) > [Words cannot ease the pain you are feeling right now But just wanted to let you know that we are thinking about you And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-jones/words-cannot-ease-the-pain-you-are-feeling-right-now-but-just-wanted/) [Margaret Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-jones/) > [That is to say, I pray for you. And there's an intimacy in it. That's the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/that-is-to-say-i-pray-for-you-and-there-s-an-intimacy-in-it-that-s/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Last but not least my family. My brother Tony, I love you. Thank you for beating me up when I was a kid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/last-but-not-least-my-family-my-brother-tony-i-love-you-thank-you-for/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Anything you pray for, you need to prepare for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/anything-you-pray-for-you-need-to-prepare-for/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) ## More by Rick Warren > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Change always starts in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/change-always-starts-in-your-mind-the-way-you-think-determines-the/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If it grows on a plant, it's healthy. If it's made in a plant, don't eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-it-grows-on-a-plant-it-s-healthy-if-it-s-made-in-a-plant-don-t-eat/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Those that innovate the future understand history the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/those-that-innovate-the-future-understand-history-the-best/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Law is downstream from culture. By the time you make a law about something, you're reacting, not acting. I'd rather shape the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/law-is-downstream-from-culture-by-the-time-you-make-a-law-about/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-look-at-the-world-you-ll-be-distressed-if-you-look-within-you/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-is-mind-boggling-to-me-that-the-almighty-power-created-everything/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We become whatever we are committed to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-become-whatever-we-are-committed-to/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“but it does mean God is able to redeem any and all situations and use them for his own good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/but-it-does-mean-god-is-able-to-redeem-any-and-all-situations-and-use/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Well actually I don't think it's a bunch of bad things that send us to hell. I think it is rejection of God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/well-actually-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-bunch-of-bad-things-that-send-us/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) [Explore all 847 Rick Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More Addiction quotes > [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) [Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/) > [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I really think the disease aspect gets lost when you're talking about alcoholism and addiction; it's not like you're battling leukemia or a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-irsay/i-really-think-the-disease-aspect-gets-lost-when-you-re-talking-about/) [Jim Irsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-irsay/) > [I had an addiction to artificial points of success. Like being able to run for this or run for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-an-addiction-to-artificial-points-of-success-like-being-able-to/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [“Addictions are just symptoms of underlying issues, and in my view Nikki self-medicated the emotional pain of his childhood, and being away from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/addictions-are-just-symptoms-of-underlying-issues-and-in-my-view/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“Oil. The great addiction of the civilized world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-warren/oil-the-great-addiction-of-the-civilized-world/) [Andrew Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-warren/) > [“They say when you fall in love in love with someone that person becomes like a drug,an addiction you don't want to live without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-when-you-fall-in-love-in-love-with-someone-that-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Addictions - Run to Jesus instead of running to your addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/addictions-run-to-jesus-instead-of-running-to-your-addiction/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Music is my personal addiction. So much of everything I've done has only been to open more doors for the music itself. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/music-is-my-personal-addiction-so-much-of-everything-i-ve-done-has/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) [Bella James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-james/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [Cold sweats, hallucinations I wanna speed to stop. The hell I'm going through The addiction's taking you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bullet-for-my-valentine/cold-sweats-hallucinations-i-wanna-speed-to-stop-the-hell-i-m-going/) [Bullet For My Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bullet-for-my-valentine/) > [As addictions go, reading is among the cleanest, easiest to feed, happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/as-addictions-go-reading-is-among-the-cleanest-easiest-to-feed/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/) [David Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-norman/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) [Browse all 2,134 Addiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own. You need the help of other people. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Warren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-persistent-bad-habit-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Addiction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-persistent-bad-habit-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/rick-warren-230_addiction_if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-pe_3033278.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/rick-warren-230_addiction_if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-pe_3033278.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/rick-warren-230_addiction_if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-pe_3033278.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck…” — Rick Warren", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rick Warren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're losing the battle against...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-persistent-bad-habit-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-re-losing-the-battle-against-a-persistent-bad-habit-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```