Christian Recovery: How to Stay Clean and Sober Forever

No one ever said that getting clean and sober was easy. If removing the chains of addiction was, then more people would probably do it. On the other hand, there is no doubt that some addicts love their drug of choice more than anything else and though they say they want to be get set free, they don't intend on it.

Many Christians in addiction ask God for help, but then expect Him to completely alleviate all the suffering related to getting off of drugs and/or alcohol. When such a miracle doesn’t happen, they often add God to their blame-shifting list and excuses. 

While God can and will deliver people from their addictions, He doesn’t always use that method. It’s His choice. He has the power to deliver anyone anytime, so when He doesn’t exercise this power, we must believe it’s on purpose. Sometimes God wants the addict to persevere – to want sobriety so much that he or she will do anything to get it.

God has also made it possible for Christians to resist temptation and escape from the snare of addictions that the enemy has put in our way. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is just one example that shows God understands the addiction problem and has the solution.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 

In one version of this Scripture, it states that God gives us a “way of escape.” In other words, God isn’t doing away with the temptation, He is instead offering us a way to separate ourselves from that temptation. This Scripture also indicates that we have the capacity to say “no” to our drug of choice, and if we trust God and get His guidance, He will show us how.

As a Christian addiction counselor for nearly 12 years, I believe that the way of escape is to put yourself in safe surroundings. Another way of saying this is, don’t hang around anyone who uses drugs or drinks alcohol, and don’t go anywhere where you will be tempted. You also must allow yourself to feel the yearning for the substance you crave, but to stand your ground and refuse to give in to it. Do this every day for the rest of your life and you will be set free of drugs and alcohol forever.

I know this works because I did it. When I first got clean and sober, my husband did not, and so alcohol was in my refrigerator nearly every day. Since I was married, I could not just leave the premises. Therefore, I had to white knuckle my sobriety. I fought the temptation because God said He would help me, and He did. As I resisted, He gave me the strength to continue to stand my ground and to say "no' to my own mind that was telling me it was okay to have just one drink.

It was a victory every day that I resisted and suffered through. And I have resisted for nearly two decades now. That's a whole lot of wins, and my life today reflects that!

God doesn’t mind asking us to suffer, especially in light of the fact that Jesus suffered all the way to death. He was beaten, disfigured and hung from a cross so that we would have what we needed to overcome strongholds, addictions, and anything else negative in our lives.

You can do it. You can quit doing drugs and alcohol forever with the help of our mighty God who will give you strength when you need it.

To learn more about Christian recovery and The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery ministry, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com. Our Christian recovery book is found on Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Follow-The-Solid-Rock-Road/dp/0615337899/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1376656401&sr=8-1. You can also find the program on Facebook and Twitter. If you have questions, call 541-778-8680.