The Fizzle Recovery

Galatians 1:6
I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to Himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that Pretends to be the Good News.

Been a long time in this recovery stuff....
Seen a lot of people make the move from addiction to sobriety.
Seen some try to do it in their own strength and ability....
Putting sheer will against this thing....this enemy that has had them under its thumb.
Those seem to fail more often than not.
But the ones that amaze me the most are what I called "Fireworks".
The explode into a night sky, lighting up everything around them.
They are noisy and create quiet a scene.
But as soon as they are there for everyone to see, they fade and vanish into the night

They enter into recovery and receive some teaching, and all of a sudden the lights come on.
Such "light-coming-on" involves a religious experience that sets them on fire.
But rather than listen to the voices of reason that are trying to help them, they reject them.
"I've got Jesus.....I don't need anything or anyone else"....
I do not doubt the experience.
I do not doubt the encounter the person had with Christ.
What I see is a person who is all caught up in the euphoria of meeting Jesus to the point that they think this is the pinnacle, rather than the beginning, of a relationship with Him.
Because they have no solid foundation of truth in their hearts, along with the simple fact that are like new born babies, they fall away at the least sign of trouble. They go back to old ways and old thoughts when they encounter something that is perceived by them to be hard or difficult. Rather than seek advice and direction from God (or even others who have some years of following Jesus)  they make their own choices.

I think maybe Matthew 13: 6-7 sums it up best.
Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots they died.

Jesus goes on in Matthew 13:20-21 to explain what He was really saying.
The seed on the rock soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.

We all need to remember that his journey we call recovery is not 100-meter dash, with the winner being the fastest. It is a marathon.....long, hard, and time consuming....but won only by those who stay the course. Won by those who are dedicated to the idea of "slow and steady wins the race". To those who are bound by the idea of "Spiritual progress" rather than spiritual perfection.

So lace up those shoes and lets be about the business of overcoming this day that has been set before us....
Just this day....this 24 hour period....
Just this day....not tomorrow.
One day at a time.....

God on you....
mbb