Recovery - A return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

One part of our fallen humanity is we go through life playing the comparison game.  We look around and compare what we have, what we do, what we don’t do, etc., to others.  We’ve all done it.  In fact, we probably compare ourselves to others way more than we even realize. 

It is a direct result of our fallen nature and our sinfulness.  Because we are sinful, whether we believe it or not, we compare ourselves to others because we want to feel like we measure up.  Comparison is one of the ways that we deal with our sense of falling short of the standard of perfection we were created to live in.

This comparing and blame-shifting ranges from comparing people’s clothes to having an us vs. them mentality about sin.  We love to justify our own and magnify the sin in others.

The reality is we’ve all lost part of what God created us to be.

Romans 3:23 reminds us - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

That’s right.  You have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard and plan for your life.  So have I.  

But, it can be so easy to think of our struggles as less than the struggles of those around us.  This is especially true with the idea of Recovery.  We are so often inclined to think of recovery as something for others but not for ourselves.

We try to create a division between ourselves and “people in recovery.”  We think, “That’s not for me.  I may sin, but I’m not an addict, I’m not that bad.”

We assume that “recovery” is only for those who struggle with chemical or behavioral addictions.  We think because we don’t struggle with drugs or alcohol that, recovery is only for “those people.”

But the truth is, that is not what recovery means.  Remember the definition from above:  Recovery is a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

Because of sin, we have all lost our health and strength.  We have all lost the normal state of perfection that God planned for us.  Fortunately for us, God desires and has created a pathway for us to return to His plan for us.

Recovery is the all-encompassing work of letting go of an old way of living.  Breaking from any damaging behavior we return to. An invitation into the right way of living.  It is learning to live every day with Christ.  All day, every day.

All have sinned and fallen short of perfection.  Recovery is choosing to work towards a return to God’s normal.

In a recent Pathfinder Podcast, Pastors Mike and Will had a discussion about recovery.  In that episode, Mike quoted football coach Tom Landry when he said, “Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.

The same is true of recovery.  Doing something we often do not want to do, to achieve something that we do want to achieve.

Recovery is hard.  It goes against our sinful nature.  It can feel awkward and intimidating.  But those of us who have entered into recovery know that even though it is difficult, it is so worth it.

September is National Recovery Month, so we want to encourage everyone to begin the process of recovery for themselves.

It is not just for others. It is for you. 

Celebrate Recovery at Northpointe meets every Wednesday on the Milburn campus.  There is recovery for chemical and other addictions.  But it is also a great place to deepen your relationship with God.  Grow in discipleship with other believers.  Work on your mental health struggles.

In short, Celebrate Recovery is for everyone who desires to return to the level of health that God wants.  That’s why we say, 

“It’s the best place to be on a Wednesday night!”

For more information on Celebrate Recovery, click here.

To submit a prayer request, click here.