Wait. Don’t go. I know what you’re thinking—recovery? from drug addiction? alcoholism? I can’t relate. So I’ll just click on “My Boys” and look at the most beautiful cats I’ve ever laid eyes on.
And I would love it if you did. My boys truly are a feast for the eyes. But can I ask you a favor? Read this first.
Because here’s the thing—you might not be an alcoholic or an addict. You might not even know one. But recovery comes in many forms. Are you grieving? Recently divorced? Have you had a miscarriage? Lost a relationship that you treasured? Battled a serious illness? Have you lost a dream that you spent years planning for? Have you had to declare bankruptcy and been financially devastated?
If you have, you probably need to recover—“to return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength” or to regain “something stolen or lost.” (both definitions are from the Oxford Dictionary.) I’ve learned in recovery that you can’t go back to who you were before. In order to regain what you’ve lost—in order to move forward and begin to recover from pain—you have to let go of your past. Clinging to the past and who you used to be is understandable. But you can’t stay there forever. You’re changed. So you have to either move on or resign yourself to forever trying to be someone who simply doesn’t exist anymore.
My favorite hymn is “It Is Well” by Horatio Spafford. Here’s the stanza that I think is life-changing:
“My sin– oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin– not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o’ my soul!”
If you can do this—if you can nail your sins—the whole ugly lot of them—to the cross and walk away unburdened, you can finally move forward. If you can leave your grief and pain and regrets at the foot of the cross, you’ll be able to walk out of the wreckage of your past. You can leave behind the old labels: Damaged. Broken. Sick. Worthless. You don’t have to be those things anymore. You can let God bear the weight of your past and trust that He has a future for you that is so much better than this place you’re living in now. Once you shift that weight off of your fragile shoulders and onto His almighty ones, you can begin to recover. To heal. To learn and grow from your journey but not let it define you for one more minute. And you can wear a new label—redeemed. Survivor. Warrior. Praise the Lord, o’ my soul!
Now—feel free to go look at pictures of my beautiful boys. I think you’ll be blessed.