Consider Him

by guest blogger Bev Dowdy
​
At Campus Church our sermons have been focused on Hebrews 11 & 12 with the theme: We Can Do This. When it comes to recovery from addiction, and we do this?

 When life asks you to do hard things, how do you walk through them? What sustains you?
Overcoming addiction, can be minute-by-minute. Our body craves a substance. Emotional pain draws us to a dangerous antidotes. People pleasing pushes our resolve. Setbacks in our relationships and work life devastate us.
How can we stay faithful to our recovery? How do we endure?
Consider him--Jesus.
…And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12 103
Consider Him.

Misunderstood by his mother
Pushed to take on big tasks before he felt ready
Grieved by the death of a best friend; was even told he could have prevented that death
Criticized unfairly
Falsely accused
Betrayed by his closest friends
Brutalized physically by people who should have protected him
Tempted to cave by the devil himself
He endured all this, because he saw his goal, his joy.
What is your joy?
In the short run?
In the long term?
Can staying sober, eating right, spending as planned, avoiding porn, keeping the faith with our vows to our family help you gain that joy?
Can your addiction derail you?
Consider Him.
Talk to Him.
Ask Him to help you not to tire.
Ask Him to help you keep your heart in your recovery.
He endured.
He overcame.
He sent his Spirit to comfort, convict, counsel, and empower you,
Consider Him.
Ask Him in.