Isaiah 61:4
And they shall rebuild the old ruins. They shall raise up the former desolation's. And they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolation's of many generations.
Using this verse, in a symbolic way, we can lay understand the very heart of God and how his desire is restore the life of someone coming out of addiction. There are very few, if any at all, areas in the life of an addict that has not been touched by the destruction that drugs and alcohol introduce.
Families are shattered...
Relationships are terminated....
Finances are blown to the wind...those of the addict and of the family as they desperately try to save them.
Health is ground down into a fine powder....
But the one hope that can be laid hold of....
The one hope that not only comes with a promise, but with Power....
Is that no matter how deep the destruction, God is deeper still.
Notice the words in the verse from Isaiah.
They shall rebuild....
They shall raise up....
They shall repair...
These are action words. Not words that reflect mental exercises.
This means that we are empowered by God to make right all the wrong in our lives.
In addiction, we have what is known as "Toxic Emotions".
Two of those are guilt and shame.
Guilt is directed toward what you have done...your deeds and behaviors.
Shame is directed toward your person...who you think you are.
Well lets take a look at another portion of Isaiah 61 that speaks of what happens when a person becomes saved and begins this incredible journey in recovery.
Isaiah 61:7
Instead of SHAME, you shall have double honor.
And instead of CONFUSION they shall rejoice in their portion.
Therefore in their land they shall possess double:
Everlasting joy shall be theirs.
As we have embraced the first 3 steps of the 12 steps, we now begin the process of rebuilding. As a good friend of mine says so often, "When you move past Step # 3, that where you put "Boots on the ground." IN other words, the building process begins.
Don't let hesitation and doubt rob you of joining this journey to a new life.
Because you see....
It's like this.....
Either what I have written here today is true....
or it isn't.
I just happen to be crazy enough to believe that it is true. Every part, every word...every concept...is truth from a God who loves you more than you could ever imagine.
God on you....
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