The Power of Connection

For most of my life, I didn’t recognize the tactics Satan uses to fuel addiction. It’s only in recent years that I’ve begun to understand them. Like any skilled adversary, he shifts his approach depending on where I am in life.

When I lose even the slightest bit of focus from feeling closely connected to God and others, Satan's attacks become subtle and calculated. They often begin as quiet thoughts that stroke my ego or seem harmless — thoughts that suggest I can skip something good just this once, that it’s okay to delay something meaningful, or that I’m too busy to do what’s right. Gradually, these whispers pull me away from the very connections that keep me grounded.

It happens so gradually that I hardly notice — until I realize I’m alone. And that’s when he strikes at my core beliefs. With relentless jabs to my conscience, he reminds me of our old agreements: ”You’re not good enough. You’re not worth the time. Everything else matters more than you.” That’s when the descent into isolation and relapse begins.

If Satan launches these attacks while I am surrounded by love and connection, he is not successful. He knows he must first lead me away — slowly, quietly — until I’m vulnerable and disconnected. Recognizing this pattern has given profound meaning to the phrase: “The opposite of addiction is connection.” I believe that with all my heart.

Today, I’m still here because of the connections I’ve built within myself, with my brothers and sisters in the Gospel, with my family, and most importantly, with my Savior. Staying close to them gives me the strength and awareness I need to resist the enemy’s attacks. Even when I’ve stumbled, the grace of Jesus has sustained me. His light and the connections He’s blessed me with have pulled me out of darkness time and time again.

By Adam, Guest Writer

Going Through the Motions

A spiritual leader once told me that passion will wane without ritual, but ritual will get you through times without passion. He was discussing whether a burning fire of testimony is necessary to living a good life or not, and his suggestion was that ritual keeps us doing the good things we know that we should do, even when the passion just isn’t there.

In my experience, these same ideas apply to recovery. Of course we all love the moments where the heart comes alive with a real passion for recovery, but there are also the regular rituals that we observe, such as attending meetings and surrendering to an accountability partner, and we are encouraged to keep doing those things even when we don’t want to.

I’ve spent some time wondering if it’s okay when I’m just going through the motions by way of ritual, or if I’m only doing things “right” when I have a burning passion alive in my heart. There’s no question which of those two methods I prefer: burning with passion, but is it okay when I’m not able to reach that place in my heart?

Personally, I think so. It's important to acknowledge that in life, we sometimes lose that spark. If we can only remain faithful when we feel passionate, we risk becoming fairweather disciples. That being said, I don’t believe that we can rely only on ritual. Changes are much more effective when our hearts are fully alive, and the longer we go without experiencing the fire, the more likely that we will fizzle out.

My recommendation, then, is twofold. First, do seek ways to perpetually rekindle that spark inside. Go to places where your heart is likely to come alive. Become familiar with your own spiritual language, and build up a library of songs, movies, talks, or whatever else is most likely to bring you back to life. Pray to God when you’re feeling stuck in a rut, and ask Him to make Himself manifest in your life. In short, do everything you can to bring the fire back every time that it has gone out.

But also, establish the rituals that will get you through the inevitable quiet times. When the fire is hot, establish the patterns that will keep you on the rails after things have cooled down. Build a network that will keep you honest, that will chase after you, that will invite you back to the good places. And when your heart is cool, and you just don’t feel ready to spark it back to life, lean on the rituals and trust them to keep you moving forward.

I believe that God meant for us to learn both sets of skills, and that that is the reason we both possess the capacity for burning passion, and the tendency to cool back to complacency. This dual nature gives us the opportunity to practice both sides and become mighty in each.

Speaking for myself, I’m in a colder time right now. My life has been through a barrage of trial and difficulty, such that I am just trying to get by on the old patterns. I hope that I’ll do a good job at that, and I trust that when I am able, I will start chasing the fire once again. Either way, I’m still in this, and I hope you are, too!

By Abe, Writing Team

It’s Time to Fall In Love Again - With Yourself - Part 2

In recovery from addiction, I learn that acting out isn’t the real problem. It is just a symptom of shame and believing that I’m not worthy of true, deep, endless, undying, eternal love.

The dam broke when I was at a ‘A Warrior Heart’ Bootcamp years ago, and the session opened by playing Graham Cook’s The Inheritance YouTube clip:

“The Lord says that there is nothing
That you can do that would make him love you more
There is also nothing you can do to make Him love you less
He loves you because he loves you
Because he loves you, because he loves you
Because he loves you, because he loves you
…
Because that is what He is like
It is His nature to love, and you will always be the beloved.”

God loves me 100%. Not because - or when - I am good. But because HE IS GOOD.

God so loved the world that He created it and sent His Son.

If He is Love and He is Good and He created me, then I have all the potential of being Good and being Loved (aka: Beloved).

The pivot in my life began when I started praying to see myself as God sees me. He loves me and sees my potential because He is Love. And when I step into His Love, then I can feel forgiven, put my past behind me, and move into my future.

Revelations 12:10
“For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”

Those voices in my head that I’m not lovable are real, but they are a lie and a false judgment. If I let them affect me, the enemy of my soul doesn’t have to do anything else to defeat me because I am too busy defeating myself.

God loves you because He loves you. Because He is love.

I invite you to believe that you can believe it.

I close in prayer -
“God, open my eyes. Give me Your eyes to see me as You see me. Give me Your heart to love me as You love me. Give me Your grace to forgive myself as You have forgiven me. Give me Your amnesia to remember my sins no more as You have forgotten my sins. And help me to do the same and see others as You see me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

By Pete, Writing Team