The Truth Shall Set You Free

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Many people in recovery track their sobriety date. For me, I track the day I decided to finally live a life of honesty. That day was February 26, 2019. I want to share with you why I do this.

Since entering recovery from my lifelong battle with lust addiction 4 years ago I have grown to love and appreciate the importance of honesty. I’m grateful for the critical role it’s played in my own journey of recovery. Unfortunately, honesty was not always such a priority in my life.

Through the years of my struggle with addiction I became a very good liar. It became so second nature that I would lie even when I didn’t need to. I lied to protect my secret at all costs even if it meant lying to those closest to me. Satan, the master of lies, convinced me that if I told anyone about my struggle I would be hated and lose everything important in my life such as my marriage and family. Leading up to everything finally coming out, I remember having a strong impression that if I could just be honest, I could get some help and be able to change, but as long as I continued lying, I would be on my own, unable to stop.

When I finally told the truth about everything I remember that the feeling of freedom that rushed over me felt so real. I could literally feel Satan’s grasp on me significantly weakened. It felt like the chains I had been carrying were gone. This experience had such a profound impact on me that I vowed from that time forward that I would always strive to be honest in every part of my life.

Every time I’ve had a slip or setback in my recovery I’ve been filled with guilt and shame, just like I used to feel prior to entering recovery. I’ve realized that part of my dishonesty was also me hiding my insecurities and struggles. Honesty has been my saving grace every time. As soon as I am honest with myself and others, including my sponsor and wife, I feel God’s grace again in my life.

The ironic thing is that my wife told me that it was all the lying that hurt her the most, more than knowing about my acting out.

I have realized that rather than focusing on my consecutive days of sobriety, I really just need to be honest. Nobody, including God, can do much for me when I’m not honest about what’s really going on with me. When I am honest, Satan has less influence on me, and I am better able to fight my addiction.

What next?

  • Consider your commitment to honesty. How honest are you?

  • How could improvement in your personal honesty move you forward in your path of recovery?

By Seth, Writing Team