Feeling disappointed? Have no hope? While no one knows what tomorrow will bring, God has a hope-filled future for the person who trusts Him.
Regardless of how challenging someone’s circumstances may seem right now—whether it’s addiction, hung up on an unhealthy habit, or pain from the past—it’s never too late to turn to God.
In Life Recovery Step Three, it says, “We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.”
How? A person stuck in addiction lives life on their terms and for themselves. But when they decide to turn their will and life over to God, they will begin to find freedom from addiction. So instead of using willpower alone to overcome their struggles, they can use God’s power.
Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, said it best “Our whole problem had been the misuse of our willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into alignment with God’s intention for us.”
Instead of being determined to follow their own selfish way, people must give up the freedom to do as they please and surrender to God’s selfless way as outlined in the Bible. One must stop obeying self and decide to start obeying God. Being in redemptive relationships is the key; a Life Recovery Group is a good place to find community.
One man with a dubious past sacrificed his self-will and dared to surrender to God’s will for his future. Here is his story: Two men, both criminals, were taken by the Romans alongside Jesus for execution. When they got to the place known as The Skulls, they hung both criminals on crosses: One on Jesus’ right, the other on his left. One of the criminals hanging alongside Jesus mocked Him by saying: “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it” (Luke 23:39, NLT).
But the other spoke up for Jesus, saying: “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom” (v. 40-42).
“And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (v. 43).
The eternal life that awaits the person who turns their life over to God far surpasses any suffering they experience in this life.
by Steve Arterburn