The 12-Step road often seems a long and winding one to us and some of us think we can reach the same destination by taking shortcuts that are more agreeable. Those who have walked this road before have warned us of the danger of these shortcuts because they have tried them and found them to be treacherous. What makes us think that we could do any better than they?
Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things. Everything is open before him. And to him we must explain the way we have lived. (Hebrews 4:13 ERV)
Some of us make an inventory of some facts from our past and keep others hidden. We believe that revealing everything will require us to face guilt and shame that will be overwhelming when we admit the exact nature of our wrongs. A fearless moral inventory requires the recording of everything that can be counted as a contributing factor to how we got to where we are. Taking shortcuts means we are not willing to reveal all. What we don’t realize is that whatever we leave out is information that is essential to our long term recovery. We need to ask ourselves the question that Jesus asked a man who had the same complaint for 38 years, “Do you want to get well?” 
Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you were healed. So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 8:1 ERV)
If we decide that we want to shortcut those things that cause us the most pain, then we are just adding to our burden of deceit and will miss the joy of being set free that results from telling the truth. Choosing the road that has proven trustworthy to many in the past and staying away from shortcuts will bring us to our desired destination of a meaningful new life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Please keep me safe from taking shortcuts and help me choose the well-trodden road that leads to abundant life. Amen
©2020 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/
Audio for No Shortcuts
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.