"I'm a recovering alcoholic." "I'm a recovering drug addict." "I'm a recovering abuser." I hear these phrases circulate in conversations from time to time, and I just want to ask — why? Because frankly, there is something wrong with this picture. There is something wrong with trusting a God for heavenly salvation but not for earthly restoration. There is something wrong with declaring that He's good, so so good — but not good enough to save us from that "one thing." There is something wrong with withholding true redemption from others, and even ourselves.
Because if we're recovering and recovering and recovering, when do we get to actually be recovered? When do we actually get to be free from that very thing that robbed us of so much? When will that become a reality instead of just a fairytale in the distance?
Because here's the thing — we say that God is good and powerful in any and every situation, but then we declare to the world that we are still recovering in this one area that He may or may not show up in. But what we are really doing is blatantly pursuing that one sin, even in the slightest sense, and slapping the term "recovering" on that. And then we're even asking Him to bless it.
When we push "that one thing" to the side instead of to the Savior, in essence, we are saying, "God, you can have everything but this. I still want this thing close enough where I can pull it out on my darkest of nights, and it'll be OK because I'm 'still recovering.'"
But you see, the problem with this is the world sees God as this Limited Maybe He Will, Maybe He Won't God, but in reality, He's a Limitless, He Can (And Will) Do So Much More God. All because we don't want to seek that healing. We don't like submission. We like to pray, "God, I love you. I'm so thankful for what you did for me at the cross. Take this thing that is bringing me such chaos and destruction." But as soon as we lay it down, we pick it right back up and wonder why God isn't blessing.
So, let's stop picking apart the Gospel. Let's give Him that one thing that we're holding onto so dearly and pursue true restoration. Let's embrace the fact that He died so that we may be recovered. It's messy, it's painful and even scary — but it lets God be God and brings such joy and glory.
