FROM DEATH TO VICTORY
All addictions destroys life. Over time, when we act out our addictive behaviors, whether it’s drugs, alcohol, food, sex, shopping, media, whatever your drug of choice is. There life is being drained slowly. In the end, all that remains is a walking dead person.
During this season, some of us celebrate Easter, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He conquered sin on the cross and then crushed death by His resurrection. Christians in Recovery believe that Jesus Christ resurrection symbolizes freedom and victory over addiction?
Another story of the resurrection is Lazarus. His story might give us some insight into why many Christians are not experiencing freedom from addiction, and how they can.
The full story of Lazarus can be found in John 11. Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus. His sisters, Martha and Mary, were also. When Lazarus gets sick, his sisters ask Jesus to come heal him. Jesus doesn’t come immediately, and Lazarus dies. This is not what the sisters expected from Jesus. The first thing we need to understand about recovery: God’s path to freedom and new life won’t be what we expect.
Most addicts who enter recovery expect the process to be quick, easy, and not uncomfortable. When we have those expectations, they are just the deception and lies of addiction. (“If you smoke this, drink this, or look at that, it won’t hurt you) God has a far better way for us, but many never attain it because they can’t get over the initial challenge of recovery, not being what they expected or hoped for.
No two addicts are identical in their stories or suffering. Each one has unique pain. Some addicts are hardened cynics. To these God may bring a hard truth to break their pride. Other addicts are crushed victims. To these God offers tears of understanding to lead them home. God knows that we need and when we need it on our journey of recovery.
Now the moment comes when Jesus is brought to the tomb where Lazarus was buried. Remove the stone, Jesus said.
You cannot walk out of the grave of addiction until the “stone” that is blocking you in is removed. Honesty, open-mindedness and willingness is needed to move the stone
Dead people can’t move stones, they need the support of a Recovery community. Unfortunately, many times people that are in bondage don’t understand addictive behavior. In order to live again, that have to remove stones
Here is a list of some common “stones” that keep addicts in their addictions:
- Isolation or lack of community
- False identity and self-pity
- Shame and fear/anxiety
- Poor self-care
- Childhood trauma or abuse
And many more. these stones require the help of others to remove them. The addict drowning in shame cannot remove that stone by sheer willpower or “positive thinking.” Other people need to speak truth with hope and grace to remove that stone.
Addiction stinks. The people who come around the addict to help remove the stone need to be compassionate: What lies on the other side of the grave stones is a stinky, dead person. And depending on how long the addict has been dying in their addiction, the smell can be very bad.
Many addicts, especially those addicted to sex, food, lust, gambling, shopping instead of drugs and alcohol, are great at hiding their addiction. Their grave stone is securely in place and therefore the “stink” of addiction isn’t easily recognized by others. This means friends and family may not know that their loved one is dying, or already dead.
Once the grave stone is moved and the horrible smell of death hits you in the face, it can be a powerful TRUTH moment. So don’t hurry past it. Yes, it hurts when the stinky truth about a loved one will knock you over. But you can learn from it. Breathe it in so you can become familiar with the stench, so that when you pick up that scent in others, you know what to do to help them break free from their grave of addiction
After the stone was removed, Jesus lifted his eyes and prayed then he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.
Are you struggling in your recovery? Do you still feel “dead” on your healing journey? What is God trying to show you from the resurrection of Lazarus and his son?
It is my prayer that the resurrection power of Jesus Christ along with the loving supportive community give you the victory over addiction
©Wanda Currie
Vision of Recovery believes and practices a non-denominational Christian perspective to Addiction Recovery/Mental Health Care. Vision of Recovery integrates biblically based information with coaching and counseling interventions to treat the whole person: Spiritually, Emotionally and Physically.