To the Addict in Relapse

Just come home!

What matters right now is NOT what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter if you’ve slipped. You are LOVED! Our hearts are broken because YOUR heart is broken. We understand that life happens. Every single one of us is literally ONE decision away from the exact same relapse. But you’re not too far gone.

Stop listening to the lies of the enemy

Satan wants you to believe that your family and friends are angry and so disappointed that we don’t want you anymore. As if one bad choice could cause those who love you to stop loving you. As if the people who have stood by you during your worst will suddenly abandon you. That is a lie from the pit of Hell. We’re still here waiting for your return. We would do anything in our power to show you the truth that our love for you is unwavering.

Romans 8:1 – Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

As in all of scripture, context is so important. In chapter 7, just before this, we have this passage:

Romans 7:14-15 – For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

Paul was wrestling with doing the things he didn’t want to do, and he ends up saying (paraphrased) that even though he stumbles and falls he gets back up because Jesus does not condemn us. We as your brothers and sisters do not condemn you either. The truth is that many of us, if not all of us, have relapsed in our mind occasionally. I’m not ashamed to admit I did.

I chose to use again. I made up my mind I was going to use.

The only reason I didn’t is that God gave me a flat tire and made me sit on the side of the interstate for 2 hours waiting for a new tire. During that time, when I was able to slow down, stop, and think, The Lord helped me find the strength to start contacting my accountability people, and we made it through. I didn’t use. But I would have at that moment.

Break out of that vicious cycle

Even as I typed that last section, reliving the feelings of that day, I felt shame, and regret, the pain of disappointing those I love, all of the negative feelings of addiction come over me in a wave. I know, I know, I KNOW, that the first time you slipped those feelings hit you like a Mack Truck. That’s part of the reason you have stayed in relapse. But they are NOT true. We want you to be healthy, whole, and happy. We want you to find your joy again. We just need you to come.

Lay down your burdens, lay down your shame
All who are broken, lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home, you’re not too far
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless and all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table, come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary, rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t cure.

So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame
All who are broken, lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home, you’re not too far
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart
Come as you are…
Come as you are…
Fall in His arms…
Come as you are…

There’s joy for the morning, oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow, that heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow, that heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame
All who are broken, lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home, you’re not too far
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart
Come as you are

We stand here with open arms, awaiting your return

You are NOT too far gone! Will there be hard times ahead? Maybe. But the encouraging news is that as an addict in relapse You’ve done the hard part before. You know getting sober won’t kill you. You know getting clean won’t kill you. You have an army of friends that have been EXACTLY where you are right now. All you have to do is pick up the phone, send a text message, send a Facebook message, show up on our front step, whatever it takes brother (or sister) we walk this road together, and we NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN FRIEND BEHIND!

Lord, we lift up any brothers and sisters we have that are currently struggling in relapse. I ask that you bind the activity of the enemy. I ask that you allow the Truth of Your Word to speak more loudly than the lies of the enemy. Place your arms around them to comfort them and wrap them in your grace. Give them clarity of thought to recognize their need. Give them clarity of mind to realize, as the prodigal son did, what better options they have at home if they would only begin walking. And as they make that choice to turn and begin walking, I pray that in the distance they would see you running their direction to heal and restore them, and just beyond that they would see the multitude of fellow recovering addicts full of love and acceptance as we prepare to walk alongside them in recovery. Until then merciful Father I ask for your protection over these brothers and sisters until we see them again (just as the demoniac) clean and in their right minds again! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!