God’s Grace for the Addict

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.” If you are struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism, chances are these words sound pretty unbelievable right now. Are you feeling like a wretch – lost, blind, and stumbling down the wrong path? Are you feeling like you are undeserving of God’s grace and love right now? If so, you might think that you have no hope to get to the point the author of this beloved hymn is talking about. Fortunately for you – and for all of us who daily make bad decisions and go our own way – God’s grace is for everyone, you included.

Grace is God’s undeserved love, and God wants you to have it. Grace is your heavenly Father looking at you and instead of seeing your shortcomings, He sees His dearly loved child. God showed the ultimate display of underserved love when He gave His life on the cross and paid for all of our wrongs, even though He certainly didn’t deserve the punishment. Now God continues to show us grace by loving and forgiving us, and by taking care of our everyday lives and needs.

Why do we Need God’s Grace?

The answer is simple: we are sinful. At times we might feel like more of a wretch than at other times, and if addiction has dragged you down you probably feel especially unworthy of God’s love at this moment. We need God’s grace to forgive our sins, to help us get up in the morning, and to persevere through our daily struggles. For the drug user, grace means you’ve survived another day and are given the opportunity to put your life of addiction behind you and get clean. You woke up this morning because of God’s grace, and still have hope for a new life. Because God loves you, you have the opportunity to get the treatment you need to get sober, and the people in your life who can help you succeed.

How God Shows His Grace

God shows His grace in many different ways, but the number one way is by forgiving our sins. We daily commit countless offenses against God; so many that we don’t even know we are doing it most of the time. And still, He forgives each and every one of our sins. Another way God shows His grace is by allowing us to enjoy the good things in life. Family and loved ones, shelter, food, and the beauty of nature are all things we take for granted and are things that can quickly be taken from us, but the fact that God gives us these things in the first place is a great testimony to His grace. God also shows His grace by giving people the chance to recover from their addiction. The human body is an amazing instrument and God designed it to heal and rejuvenate and recover, even after the strain of addiction. Praise God for the ability to recover! Not only that, but God has placed good people in your life right now who are willing and able to help you on your road to recovery. You have resources like great Christian rehab centers, experienced staff, and an entire recovery community who are able to provide guidance and encouragement on your path to recovery. Make use of the blessings God has graciously given you.

What does this Mean for You?

Having God’s grace means that even though you have lied, stolen, cheated, and hurt others because you were more focused on your addiction than others, God still loves you. Even if you relapse, God will still love you. It means God isn’t going to leave you to sit in your addiction any longer. He has put people and opportunities in your life to help you get started and keep you on the right track. Listen to these positive influences. As you begin recovery, be sure to keep your focus on God and His grace for you, and listen to His guidance. This means you will personally experience the benefits of God’s grace, and will be more mindful of God’s love and will for your life.

As you work to heal your body and mind, also allow for healing of your spirit. A Christian rehab program will help you do just that, through Bible study, prayer, time with other believers, and a focus on spiritual recovery through proven therapy models. Spiritual renewal and growth will help you not only during these tough days of rehab, but also as you strive to remain sober and as you get back to your life.

To get you started, meditate on the Bible passages below that speak of God’s grace.

Romans 5:6-8 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”