What’s one of the biggest challenges in trying to overcome addiction? It’s when the person suffering from addiction believes they know what is best for themselves. So, they detach from others because they don’t want anyone telling them what to do. As a result, they continue blindly down the same road of destruction that brought them under the power of dependency.
To get off the road to destruction, a person must recover accountability in their lives. The Webster’s Dictionary defines accountability as: “the quality or state of being held accountable: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.” In other words, it involves a willingness to be held accountable to an expressed outcome—purity and integrity.
Accountability is when individuals struggling with addiction and dependency connect to others so they can fight against something that, at least for a moment, is more powerful than they are. Ultimately, it provides support in a battle to be fought together.
The Bible puts it this way: “If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ”—Galatians 6:1-2, NLT
Connection with others is a fundamental part of the recovery process because it’s an essential part of character growth. Whether someone likes it or not, most of life involves people, and it’s a reality that everyone must face—one that shapes and tests each person’s character.
The deep desire of every heart is to be heard, understood, known, and connected to others, not detached. And is part of God’s created design of all. And it’s true whether a person is an introvert or extrovert. Being connected is about being mutually—and emotionally—invested in another person.
The sad reality, though, is that many individuals choose to remain detached and impenetrable. Often, people that are battling addictions and dependencies struggle to feel close to others. In most cases, this lack of intimacy has influenced their behavior, cognitive patterns, and emotions. In doing so, they develop too much of a gap for others to bridge to their hearts.
God’s design is that every person develops deep connections throughout their lives because it gives them a context to grow and deal with life. To do this, one must move away from themselves as the primary reference point and toward knowing and valuing others. Here is the bottom line: accountability is a must-have component of any successful recovery plan. Instead of living a disconnected life, join a Life Recovery Group, and begin to connect.
by Brad Stenberg