God Can

Authentic change doesn’t come from within us. We tried hard to overcome our addiction. We tried everything humanly possible, but were unable to end the madness. I spent several years trying to stop but always returned to the bottle. I could go a week or two without drinking, but then the disease would convince me that I didn’t have a problem. I would believe the lie that since I was able to go that long without drinking, I must not be an alcoholic. So, I would return to drinking, even in light of all the troubles it was causing. Divorce, three DUI arrests, financial trouble, and relationship problems. I was fortunate to have a friend to reach out to. She agreed to meet with me. To my surprise she showed up with the pastor of her church. I can’t remember how long we sat there talking. Eventually the conversation turned to Jesus, and I turned my life and my will over to Him. That was my first day of freedom and nearly 33 years later I am still free. 

In the chapter “Bill’s Story” of the AA Big Book, Bill states, “But my friend sat before me, and he made the pointblank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself.” (Pg 32). Bill had a friend who had dramatically changed and credited God for it. He admitted it wasn’t what he did for himself, but what God did for him. Much like myself he discovered that by ourselves we could not change. No matter what we tried we always failed. In desperation we made one last attempt at freedom. The attempt was life altering. We asked for God’s help, and He stepped in and rescued us. God makes all the difference. It’s not that we are free from hardship. It is that we are free to handle them with a clear mind, unclouded by whatever our addiction is. John 8:36 says “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus makes the difference. Jesus throws open the prison door and guides us through it to freedom. 

I have witnessed people with multiple years of sobriety relapse. I want to say that relapse is possible for all of us, but it doesn’t have to become part of our story. When asked about their relapse and what lead to it, they responded that they “stopped doing the things that they relied on before. Things like starting my day with prayer and Bible reading.” They went on to say that they stopped trusting God and started trusting themselves. This person acknowledged their need for God in order to maintain their sobriety. I am happy to say this individual is sober today, and has been for sometime. The difference, Jesus. They returned to all the things they did to maintain freedom from their addiction. God had done for them what they couldn’t do for themselves. 

When we can’t, God can. “‘Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”’ (Matthew 19:26).