Where does Faith step into the recovery process?
So what would you say? Where does Faith step into recovery?
Ellen is a sweet-spirited soul that has fallen most of her life to a substance bigger than herself. It calls her. She has managed to get away several times in the past for short periods, yet she often finds herself back where she never hoped to be.
Her eyes were focused on the floor and after a lifetime of regrettable behavior, she had finally come to the end of herself. Though she had been away from alcohol for two years she displayed no joy, hope, purpose or self-esteem. As I looked over to what was an emotionally frail woman, crushed by the world and her choices, I knew there would be more to her story! I knew she was now in the place where she could, with some help, start to find what had been buried for so long.
She shared how she had been caught up in a life of alcohol and sex and her regrets were heavy burdens even today. She mentioned her son who was just entering his teenage years and had lived through both of his parents’ alcoholism. In my mind I wondered how many times his parents had gotten behind the wheel of a car drunk, to take him to a sports event or school function. In my heart I knew the answer. I would commit to teaching Ellen how to live a fulfilling life.
I shared that I was broken at one time too and that life’s crushing blows side swipe us from time to time. It feels like we are in a dinghy in the middle of the ocean and there is no one around to help us but ourselves. We have been looking only into the natural world instead of the world of faith. Ellen’s eyes rose from the floor as I shared that God would help her through this battle and that He could take her further in her journey than any person could ever take her.
Instead of putting her faith into self-sufficiency, Ellen could have a power greater than herself to help carry her through. I am limited in my humanity, but God is not. Alcohol for her was only a band aid over the symptoms of her inner heart condition. Her faith was stirred and the seeds that had been planted inside started to bloom. We shared a prayer and Ellen’s eyes finally looked into mine. I saw a change happen. Today she is living a life she never thought she could with peace and joy. Everything didn’t turn out perfect but she learned how to handle life’s disappointments and knew Who she could turn to 24/7. Faith can step anywhere into the recovery process!
Three helpful tips for anyone in recovery
- Don’t pick up or use
- Say a prayer
- Go to a meeting
Three helpful scriptures for recovery
- 1 Corinthians 2:5 – That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 – This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 – Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
God bless YOUR journey.
