Step 12

 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

As National Recovery Month comes to an end today, the fight for those in substance abuse recovery continues.  Although, this month spotlighting the disorder comes to a close, we continue in the battle for those still struggling.  The very best possible way to help those in recovery is to carry the message of hope!  Step 12 says, having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.  We tried to carry the message, it is that simple, yet that difficult.  There is a simple solution to stay healthy in recovery, however, at the same time it is the hardest thing we will ever do.  When we reach the end of the steps, this by no means constitutes us being finished in recovery, or being healed.  There is no finish line!  But, by the time we go through the steps with a true desire to change, honesty, and humility, with the help of godly people that have our best interest in mind, our lives will begin to look completely different then they once were.  And that is the message.  It is a simple message of hope.  We can say 'look how bad my life and circumstances got, but look how much more joy and peace I have after following Jesus through these spiritual steps of recovery'.  In the fifth chapter of the book of Romans, Paul tells us about the hope we now have in Jesus Christ, and he also tells us immediately following that the process it takes to get to the hope,

 

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

-Rom 5: 1-5

 

As we look into this verse, we can fully relate to the process of hope because it perfectly aligns with the recovery steps.  By the way, it is important to note, that this is the same process for ALL sin, addiction sin recovery is merely highlighted because of what this month represents.  Nonetheless, the way to get to the hope is the same.  Paul tells us, that we can get to a place where we rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.  This is a powerful stance on suffering, when we can see the hope in our suffering because of the process we have been through.  At this point, we have persevered through these steps, it has taken much endurance and patience, which surely has grown our character.  And with this growth of character, we now shine hope to others who are hurting.  In the scripture above, God makes a promise to the Israelites, that applies to us today, He tells us that He knows the plans for our lives.  What is this plan?  Hope!  The Lord wants to give us hope and prosper us, He doesn't want to harm us.  He never promises it will be easy or simple, but He does promise to give us the kind of hope that demonstrates a character that becomes more like His character.  And when we become transformed from our old sinful habits using this process, we become more like our Maker.  It is this transformative message of hope that we are to carry to others, while trying to live these principles in our lives daily.  Today, trust that the Lord has plans for your future.  Trust that they are plans to give you hope and prosperity.  Trust that if you give up your will, and follow His, you can begin to die to your old life, and live in the abundant life Jesus promises that He came to give to you.  I love you guys!  Praying for you and yours!  Have blessed day, it's your choice!