by Safety Net Recovery
A “higher power” can support your sobriety to help you stay sober, which is why it’s part of the 12 Steps. For Christians, that higher power is Jesus Christ, who was born on the day we celebrate as Christmas.
In many instances, the birth of Jesus Christ parallels the challenges faced by those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Recovering from addiction is a lifelong mission, and the timeless words from the Bible can help us along the way. The Christmas story in particular offers several lessons that can fortify your commitment to sobriety.1
Humble Beginnings
There was no room at the inn, so Mary and Joseph slept in an outbuilding. Jesus Christ, King of Kings and the Savior for all Christians, was born without the fanfare most kings enjoy. He was born in a manger, inside a barn, with only His parents and farm animals around Him. Jesus Christ’s humble start is a signal of how we should live our lives.
Staying in a humble state means not being too proud or egotistical. Being too proud or “full of one’s self” can lead to relapse. When recovering people live humbly, they don’t have to feel they are better or worse than anyone else; they simply accept who they are. They turn their lives over to a higher power, in a state of humble acceptance, freeing themselves to live in grace with peaceful minds. If the Lord could come from such humble beginnings, we can embrace humility ourselves.
Lying in a Manger
At birth, Jesus lay in a manger. Common people can’t visit the palaces of newborn kings uninvited, but common folks can visit mangers. This message carried through all of Jesus Christ’s adult life. From servants to beggars, prostitutes and the ill, Jesus turned no one away. Jesus longed to touch everyone, no matter what their station in life.
We can take this to mean that no matter where we are in our lives, no matter how low or badly we may feel, Jesus is accessible to us if we go to Him. Put out your hand and your heart if you feel you may slip from your sober life, knowing that Jesus will always be there for you to support your sobriety.
God Is with Us
In the blink of an eye, a child born in the humblest of settings becomes our God. In Matthew 1:23 it says, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”2 We can stay sober and live rewarding lives by remembering the story of the child born in a barn who became the most high God, as our inspiration, knowing He is always with us.
With God at your side, no addiction is too deep or far-gone to overcome. From ashes, God creates beauty and light, so no matter how “burned down” you think you are, there’s hope. Jesus is always with you to support your sobriety.
