To experience strength and hope for the future in our new life with God in recovery we need to stand firm in the power of the Holy Spirit. He came to live in us when we invited Jesus to be Lord of our lives. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and nothing can overcome us when we stand in His victory over sin and death. This is why turning our will and our life over to the care of God is the smartest thing we can do. This is the foundation of our growth and development in recovery.
The Bible tells us, Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. ... God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. ... Christ is the mighty power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. (Psalm 55:22, Exodus 15:2, Psalm 46:1, 1 Corinthians 1:24b-25 NLT)Jesus taught that strength to face the inevitable challenges we will encounter in our daily life in recovery comes to us when we remain in His care and grow in His grace. He used a gardening picture to help us understand. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. (John 15:5-6 NLT)
Outside of God, we can’t maintain the desire to do what is right, let alone find the strength to do what we know we ought to do. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 NLT) It is the experience of each person who walks with God that He gives power at the very time when they feel weak and this is what actually makes them strong. God says: My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT) As we ask for, and receive God’s grace and power, we can then say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NLT)
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