The Heart Of Recovery By Deborah and David Beddoeنموونە

Day Five

The Ministry of Restoration

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

Charles Haddon Spurgeon preached in the 1880s about the unexpected plot twist in the story of Lazarus: “This seems a strange sequel to a miracle. The bands of death released, but not the bands of linen; motion given, but not movement of hand or foot, strength bestowed, but not the power to undress himself…. This brings us to consider a timely assistance which you and I are called to render. Oh, for wisdom to learn our duty, and grace to do it at once.”

Addiction thrives in secret. It wraps tight around, binding hands and feet in strips of shame. Suffocating, blinding, burying. Refusing to release. We cannot wrench anyone from the tomb-grip of addiction, and we are powerless to raise them from living death.

That’s why breaking free from addiction, no matter how it comes about, is a miracle. But sobriety is just the beginning.

Early in our story, I didn’t understand that escaping addiction involved so much more than just getting off drugs. I didn’t realize that even prescription opioids chemically alter a person’s brain. It never crossed my mind that Dave might relapse. I figured he had Jesus. 

But recovery is a process, not a onetime event. At the heart of recovery is the compassion of a community of bystanders willing to help complete the work of restoration—just as wrapped up in the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection was the transfer of the ministry of restoration from Jesus to the community.

If you haven’t already experienced the challenges of being part of someone’s safety net, chances are, you will. And when you have the blessing of standing nearby when someone finally breaks free from the death grip of an addiction, you have an opportunity to be a part of restoring them fully to life. 

God, we celebrate that you are patient with us. We celebrate that you allow us to rely on each other for healing. We thank you that you never give up. Amen.