I’d never been to a recovery meeting before and didn’t know what to expect, but the crowded room seemed welcoming enough as I slipped into a chair in the back.
The lady in the next seat smiled, said hello, and seemed genuinely glad I was there. The same for Bob on the other side, and we chatted as we waited for the meeting to begin. In just a few minutes, I knew more about Bob, and he about me, than other people I had known for years.
Plaques on the walls spoke to me as well: “Let go and let God.” “One day at a time.” “Progress, not perfection.” And one that really caught my eye, “If you feel far away from God, guess who moved!”
What Recovery is Like
The meeting opened with the Serenity Prayer (“God grant me the serenity to accept …”), and I was warmed and captivated by the simple wisdom in the words. Someone read the Twelve Steps, which I quickly saw as being strongly anchored in solid Biblical truths.
Then, a man spoke out: “Hi, I’m Dan, and I’m an alcoholic.”
Dan’s matter-of-fact introduction surprised me. I’d never seen anyone admit something like that in public before, but it seemed liberating to watch someone set aside such a burden so readily.
For the next 30 minutes, I listened in amazement as people described my life. Not specifically, because they told stories of themselves, but it was life-changing to see I was not alone in my brokenness. I was with people who could connect with me, and who seemed very willing to do so.
In the ongoing discussion, God was mentioned freely and often. Not as some unapproachable deity, but as a guide, friend, and father as well as a personal savior.
The meeting closed with everyone holding hands and sharing the Lord’s Prayer. I silently added a prayer of my own, refreshed by what I had just experienced: “Thank you!”
Finding God in Recovery
That meeting was over a decade ago. Recently, my wife and I were talking about how many people we had met who spoke of finding God in recovery. We thought about why that was true:
They have reached a state of brokenness where they are more open to God’s invitation.- Because committing to a spiritual approach is the way to address their most urgent issue.
- They have available mentors as role models who can disciple them through the process.
- The Twelve Steps provide Biblically-sound guidance that helps people grow closer to God including: turn your will and life over to the care of God; humbly ask God to remove your shortcomings; and improve your contact with God through prayer and meditation.
- They feel accepted by the people, and they can be vulnerable with their issues. The people there are not hypocritical or judgmental, and they are knowledgeable about the various factors contributing to addiction.
But perhaps the biggest reason for finding God in recovery is something else that is both wonderful and mysterious. Because it seems God often does his best work in our toughest times.
The Church and Recovery
Twelve Step-based recovery leads people on a God-centered spiritual journey with a process, tools, community, and accountability to make life transformation happen at a personal level.
Why doesn’t everyone talk about finding God in recovery? Interestingly, the problem some have with the Twelve Steps is the insistence on surrendering your will to God. Ironically, and sadly, they shun the very thing that could save them.
But although some programs are specifically Christian, such as Celebrate Recovery, recovery in general is not church. Its primary focus is helping people deal with addiction. But what should today’s churches think about recovery?
We have a good example to learn from. Someone who often associated with people who were struggling. One who dealt with them with acceptance and grace, addressed their issues, directed them on a path of spiritual growth, and loved them along the way.
Personally, I think Jesus would enjoy hanging out with people in recovery.
Question: What can you do to assist people in finding God in recovery?
Action: Encourage people to investigate what they can learn from recovery.
Photo by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon 
Photo by DrPhotoMoto Photo by Lel4nd
