Rediscovering Your God-Given Strength: A Journey of Sacred Sobriety

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

 

Welcome to Sacred Sobriety: A Path for the Soul! If you’re here, you might be on a journey of sobriety, wrestling with life’s challenges, or simply looking to reconnect with the strength, wisdom, and joy God placed within you. Today, we’re exploring how sobriety isn’t just about abstaining from substances—it’s a sacred, spiritual path that leads us back to our true selves. Inspired by the Touchstones Daily Meditation for Men, this post blends personal experience, Scripture, and reflection to offer hope and guidance.

So, whether you’re sipping tea or settling in after a long day, let’s unpack this together. You’re not alone on this road—God’s got you, and I’m here to walk alongside you.

The Hidden Gifts We All Carry

Deep within every one of us lie extraordinary treasures: supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, and unquenchable joy.

These aren’t fleeting feelings—they’re God-given qualities, part of who He created us to be. The Touchstones meditation puts it beautifully:

We all carry it within us: supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted and cannot be destroyed. But it is hidden deep, which is what makes life a problem.

Huston Smith

How does a man lose touch with his strength, his wisdom, his joy? Perhaps it is in the nature of humanity. Our most profound qualities are hidden deep. They never go away, but we cannot always find them. There may be nothing wrong with ourselves as men when we lose touch. It doesn't have to mean that we are "bad guys" for getting depressed or for feeling inadequate. Who doesn't have that problem? It is the nature of life that we sometimes feel this way. This program helps us unearth the resources hidden within us.

When we cannot find those reassuring feelings of strength and wisdom and joy, we may think they are gone forever. We even doubt we ever had them or could have them again. But they are still there. They cannot be destroyed. And when we regain contact we know they have been with us all along.

I will have faith that the innermost places in me can never be destroyed.

Think about that for a moment. No matter how buried these gifts feel—under addiction, shame, or just the weight of life—they’re still there, waiting to be rediscovered. Huston Smith once said, “It is hidden deep, which is what makes life a problem.” That’s the essence of sacred sobriety: peeling back the layers to find what God never took away.

My Story: From a Mazda to a Miracle

To bring this to life, let me share a piece of my own journey. Years ago, I found myself living in a Mazda 323 hatchback in a church parking lot. I was working as a custodian, scraping by, and honestly, I felt entitled. I thought I deserved charity, respect, and love from others—without question. But that entitlement wasn’t noble. It was a mask for anger, bitterness, and a refusal to see my own role in where I’d landed.

One day, someone called me out. “Your problem isn’t what’s happening to you,” they said. “It’s how entitled you feel.” I was livid. I stormed off to my car, sat there fuming, and mentally rehearsed all the reasons they were wrong. But then, something shifted. As I stewed in my self-righteousness, I heard the Holy Spirit’s voice—not loud or booming, but clear and piercing.

The Spirit revealed the truth: I wasn’t just living in a car—I was trapped in a cycle of poor choices, fueled by a belief that the world owed me something. My anger wasn’t righteous; it was foolish, like the “Raka” Jesus warns about in Matthew 5:22—empty-headed and destructive. In that moment, the Spirit “pricked my heart,” convicting me and calling me to repentance. It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but it sparked a journey back to the strength, wisdom, and joy I’d lost sight of.

What the Bible Says About Strength and Sobriety

This experience wasn’t random—it’s rooted in God’s Word. Let’s look at a few verses that tie this together.

• Matthew 5:22:
  “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raka,’ is answerable to the court.”
  “Raka” describes someone consumed by foolish anger—exactly where I was. Sobriety, both physical and spiritual, starts with letting go of that kind of bitterness.
• Proverbs 20:5:
  “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
  Our strength and joy are like deep waters—hidden but real. Insight, often from the Holy Spirit, helps us access them.
• Romans 8:26-27:
  “The Spirit helps us in our weakness... The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit.”
  Even when we’re too weak to see our own gifts, the Spirit is at work, guiding us back to God’s will.
• Philippians 2:12-13:
  “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
  Spiritual growth—and sobriety—is a process. God’s working in us, even when we don’t feel it.

These scriptures remind us that our journey isn’t about earning God’s gifts—they’re already ours. It’s about letting Him uncover them.

Sobriety as a Sacred Path

So, what does sacred sobriety really mean? It’s more than saying no to a drink or a drug—it’s saying yes to the soul God created. Addiction, despair, or even pride can cloud our strength, wisdom, and joy, but they can’t erase them. My “Mazda moment” showed me that. Maybe you’ve had one too—a time when God broke through the noise and reminded you who you are.

This isn’t a solo trip. Community keeps us accountable. Prayer keeps us connected. Scripture keeps us grounded. Together, they help us peel back the layers and live into the fullness of what God intended. Whether you’re in recovery or just seeking clarity, know this: your gifts aren’t gone. They’re waiting.

Reflective Questions to Go Deeper

Let’s pause and reflect. Grab a notebook or just sit with these questions for a minute:

1. When have you felt disconnected from your strength, wisdom, or joy? What buried them—stress, shame, something else?
2. Have you had a “prick in the heart” moment? How did God use it to redirect you?
3. What helps you stay connected to your God-given qualities? Prayer? A friend? A verse?
4. Where might the Holy Spirit be nudging you to grow right now? What’s one small step you could take today?

These aren’t just questions—they’re doorways to deeper faith and freedom.

Your Next Step: Embrace the Journey

Here’s the takeaway: your strength, wisdom, and joy are still there, no matter how hidden they feel. Sacred sobriety is about trusting God to uncover them—one day, one prayer, one choice at a time. You’re not defined by your struggles; you’re defined by the God who made you.

Let’s Connect: Share Your Story

If this hit home, drop a comment below. How have you seen God’s strength show up in your life? What’s one thing you’re taking away from this? I’d love to hear from you.

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Thanks for being here, friends. Keep walking this sacred path—God’s with you every step.