Hope for Recovery: A 7-Day Plan for Those in RecoveryShembull

Day 6: Keep the Peace

Peace can be fragile. It must be maintained and guarded with care, because life is set up in such a way that eventually, somewhere along the line, something will threaten your peace. Disappointments are just part of the experience of being human, so now’s the time to get a game plan for the way you’re going to handle those disappointments… instead of letting them drive you into relapse.

Life can be really difficult, even in sobriety, complete with all the same depressing and trying times you had prior to recovery. Life still throws you major curve balls like unexpected career news, troubled relationships, parenting problems, and all the other normal stuff that stresses us out.

That’s why it’s important to take steps to identify the risks in our lives and put plans of prevention in place. The truth is, guilt, shame and resentment get sparked during moments of pain, disappointment, and conflict, and if we don’t learn to stay balanced and get a plan in place to maintain the peace in our lives during these seasons, then we are fighting an uphill battle.

Here are a few questions to consider:

What are some ways you used to respond to disappointment? How have you changed those in recovery?

Does the prospect of “keeping the peace” or “guarding your heart” feel easy for you? Difficult? Somewhere in between?

Can you already name the people and/or situations that might cause you to lose your peace?

The wonderful thing about peace is that it’s always available to us through Christ. Making a plan for keeping our peace in the midst of the struggle just keeps all that much closer to Jesus.

Pray:

God, I’ll be honest: sometimes disturbing thoughts come back into my mind. I can now see how easily my peace can be disrupted and my emotions swayed. So today I bring all of that to you. All the people, the circumstances, the past emotions, the hurt, the pain, the guilt, and the shame. I bring all these things to your feet and give them to you. Remind me that you walk with me through life, guarding my back, holding my hand, and clearing the way in front of me. And when a situation arises that jeopardizes my peace, God, I pray you would give me a way out like you promised you would. Help me to see it clearly and, with faith, take the step towards you. Amen.