Key Scripture - Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (ESV)
Reflection
Grace is not a mere aid to your personal journey through recover; it is the very ground upon which your soul must stand. You are not saved by your own merits or efforts, nor does your deliverance from the mire of sin rest upon your own resolve. "By grace you have been saved through faith" - and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Do you see it? Or do you still cling to the subtle pride that your striving adds something to His finished work? At the cross, all such notions are swept away. Your worth, your hope, your healing - these are not earned; they are bestowed by Him who gave Himself for you. In recovery, you must abandon the weary treadmill of self-effort and rest in the unmerited favor of God. Only there, in utter dependence, will you find the liberty your soul craves.
Turn your eyes to the vastness of this grace. "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20). Ponder the depth of your failure - not to despair, but to stand in awe of a grace that outstrips it all. In the darkest pit of addiction, in the heaviest weight of shame, grace does not falter; it triumphs. Think not that this is an excuse to linger in sin, but a summons to rise from it. Your past, however broken, is no match for His efficacious redeeming love. Yet, grace demands a costly response. Will you let it remake and transform you? Will you yield to its power and step into the life it promises - a life not of bondage, but a life of meaning and purpose?
Nor is grace a passive thing. "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions" (Titus 2:11-12). It is your teacher, your guide, your strength in the fight. Grace does not pamper your weakness; it calls you to renounce the old ways and live as one redeemed. Are you teachable? Will you let it strip away the habits that destroy and clothe you in righteousness instead? In recovery, grace is the hand that lifts you when you stumble, the voice that bids you walk upright before the Lord. Yet, you must obey its instructions without delay. Only by surrender to its transforming work will you come to know the fulness of God's purpose and will for your life - "for what profiteth a man if he shall find his life and then lose it?" (Matthew 16:24-16). Recovery, through God's sovereign Grace, is our willingness to "deny [ourselves] and take up [our] cross where we lose our life for His sake in order to find it.
Recovery Focus
Pause and consider: Where has God's grace broken through in your recovery and spiritual journey? Not in fanfare, perhaps, but in the still, small victories - a temptation turned aside, a word of truth from a friend, a peace that held you fast amid the storm. These are the marks of grace, subtle yet sure. Do not pass them by unheeded. To see them is to see Him who gives them. Let this stir in your heart and mind toward gratitude and bind you closer to His strength. For by grace, you stand today, and by grace alone you will press on with steadfast faith and assurance of hope.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your sovereign grace. Without it, I have no hope and assurance and am lost. Thank you for stripping me of all self-reliance and helping me fix my eyes upon your gift that is unearned and boundless. Thank you for teaching me to rest in your love, to trust in your might above my own strength - for where I am weak, you make me strong as I yield wholly to your will. Let your grace continue to shape me, renew me, and lead me onward with courage and wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen.
Introduction
Welcome to the series Keystones of Faith: Courage and Wisdom for Christians in Recovery. I am so grateful you are here today as I present another episode. A devotional series designed to help strengthen your walk with God through the challenges of recovery. Today's episode focuses on God's grace, and I want to share with you something absolutely foundational to both our faith and our healing. If you're on a recovery journey - whether from addiction, shame, or any kind of brokenness, this message is for you. It's about hope, freedom, and the unearned gift that changes everything.
Let's start with our key scripture this morning from Ephesians 2:8-10. Listen to these words:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This is the heartbeat of today's message. Grace is not just a nice idea - it's the very ground our soul stands on in recovery. It is not about what you are able to do to fix yourself - we cannot do that - it's about what God has already done for you. So, grab your scriptures, a journal, or just a quiet space, and let's journey together into the beauty of God's divine and sovereign grace that comes through Jesus Christ.
Grace is crucial for our recovery and spiritual growth. We're going to break this down into four parts:
- What is grace?
- Why does Grace matter in recovery?
- How is it different from self-effort?
- And what does it mean to rest in it?
Stick with me - this is going to set the stage for everything else we talk about today.
What is Grace?
First, what is grace? Simply put, God's unmerited favor - His love and mercy given to us freely through the atonement of Jesus Christ, not because we've earned it. Ephesians 2:8-9 says it plainly that it's God's provision of salvation and redemption. It is also His provision for healing and restoration. This is revolutionary for those of us on a path of recovery and living a thriving sober lifestyle through Christ.
To deepen this, let's look at Romans 3:23-24 (ESV):
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Grace is not a little boost to help us along; it's the foundation of our healing. We are not saved by our own self-reliant efforts or merits. Nor is it our ability to bring about deliverance from addiction and past hurts. It boils down to the reality that no matter how hard we attempt to free ourselves from the bondage of our shame, guilt, addiction, and brokenness - we will never bring about the necessary freedom and transformation that comes only through Christ. It is a divine gift.
Do you see how this is so? Or are you still holding onto the idea that your striving somehow adds something to what Jesus did on the cross for you? At the cross, all those notions are swept away. Your worth, your hope, your healing and breakthrough are not earned; they're given by Him who gave Himself for you.
Why is Grace Important in Recovery?
So why does this matter so much in recovery? Because, without grace, we're stuck on what I call the weary treadmill of self-effort and self-reliance. How many of you, and how often, have you attempted to rely on your own efforts and will power? Attempting to white-knuckle sobriety, or to exert personal will power one's way through temptation soon finds oneself crashing and burning with disappointment, frustration, and further shame and guilt. This is what happens when we rely on our own self efforts. Yet, grace changes the game.
Romans 5:20 reminds us, "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." Think on this for a moment. In the darkest pit of our addiction, shame, guilt, and brokenness - our hurts and painful past - God's grace claims victory and triumphs over the heaviest weight of these things. His grace never faulters as it triumphs.
It's not an excuse to stay stuck in sin; it's a summons for us to rise up and come out of the tomb and take off the burial clothes that we have wrapped ourselves in (see John 11:1-44).
Our past, no matter, how broken, is no match for God's redeeming love. Grace meets us where we are and says, you don't have to do this alone. That'\s why it's essential in recovery - it's the power that outstrips our failures and disappointments.
How Grace Differ from Self-Effort
Let's take a moment to talk about how grace is different from self-effort and reliance. Self-effort is all about what you can do - how many meetings you attend, how many days you stay abstinence, how strong you can be. But Grace? It is about what God has done. It's about abandoning that treadmill of attempting to prove yourself and resting in His unmerited favor. Here's the thing; Self-effort wears you out, whereas grace lifts you up. It's not passive, though - it demands a response.
Galatians 2:21 reminds us that we "do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (ESV). If we were capable of earning our recovery, Christ's sacrifice and healing becomes meaningless. However, it's not - His death and resurrection prove that grace, not works, sets us free.
Self-effort and reliance keep us trapped in a cycle of unrealistic expectations: We try harder, and yet consistently fail time and time again. This causes us to feel worse and deepening our shame and guilt.
Will you let it remake you? Will you step into the life it promises - a life not of bondage, but of meaning and purpose? That's the difference. Self-effort keeps you running in circles; grace sets you free to walk a new path. For whom the Savior sets free - he is free indeed (John 8:36).
What does it Mean to Rest in God's Grace?
Finally, what does it mean to rest in God’s grace? To me, it’s about surrendering completely to Him, depending entirely on His love and mercy instead of my own efforts or others’ approval.
This past Sunday, I got a glimpse of this truth when I attended a service at a local Foursquare church with a brother I’m mentoring. He’s in recovery and new to the Christian faith, and I’m guiding him as best I can. The pastor preached on Acts 5:1-16, the unsettling story of Ananias and Sapphira, who sold their land but lied about keeping back part of the money. Their deception didn’t just cost them their honesty—it cost them their lives.
As I listened, the Holy Spirit stirred something in me. I later messaged the pastor:
I’ve been meditating on your sermon today, and the Spirit’s showing me how I’ve been holding back part of myself from God. It’s like this withholding fueled fear, shame, and guilt, leaving me spiritually numb when I chase external validation instead of faithful obedience.”
This isn’t a new battle for me. I’ve spent years running after approval, trying to be the perfect friend, husband, and father. But I’ve failed miserably, ending up defeated, numb, and angry. A lot of this comes from emotional abuse I faced growing up, mostly from my family.
The roots go deep—back to kindergarten, when my dad was stationed at Fort Lewis (now Lewis-McChord). My siblings and I were often dropped off at a neighbor’s house, a young Christian mom who babysat us. Even then, I was blamed and punished for things I didn’t do. I’ve shared this with my sponsor and step study group, how that early unfairness stuck with me. It made me act out, as if I deserved the punishment I kept getting.
The pattern continued. As a teenager in Boy Scouts, I’d come home to accusations of causing family fights, even when I wasn’t there. That blame shaped me—I started fearing punishment so much that I’d go out of my way to please people, desperate for their validation.
Now, as someone who knows Christ deeply and personally, I’m still wrestling with this. Sunday’s message hit me hard: I’m still holding a piece of myself back from God. Maybe it’s because I struggle with self-worth, still crave approval, feel guilty when I stand up for myself, or deal with ongoing verbal abuse online. When I open up, I’m often met with judgment, criticism, or shame, and it feeds those old feelings of inadequacy.
But Acts 5:1-16 makes me wonder—what am I keeping from God? Resting in His grace means letting go of that need for others’ approval and trusting His love is enough. I want to fully surrender, but I’m caught in this tug-of-war: Have I given Him everything? If not, what’s holding me back? My past wounds make it hard to let go, yet I see now that recognizing this struggle is the first step toward true rest in Him. It’s given me a lot to think about.
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV) gives us this insight: For the grace of God has appeared, brining salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
Grace becomes our teacher, through the Holy Spirit, and our strength. It does not coddle our weakness; it empowers us to renounce old habits and live a life that is redeemed and liberated from the shackles of sin and death.
Resting in grace is laying down our burdens - our past, our need to preform - and trusting Him.
Here is where we start:
- Surrender Daily: Prayer each morning, "Lord, I give this day to you as I walk in your grace and mercy."
- Meditate on Grace: Read Eph. 2:8-10 or Matthew 11:28-30 - let them sink in.
- Find Accountability: Connect with others who get this journey.
- Give Thanks: Note where grace show sup - a victory, a kind word, a quiet moment.
It is not easy; however, it is freedom. I am learning this myself as I continue to grow in faith and living a thriving and sober lifestyle.
Let's keep going together - one step at a time, one grace-filled moment at a time.
Prayer and Reflection
"Let’s pray and reflect:
Lord, thank You for Your sovereign grace. Without it, we’re lost. Thank You for stripping us of self-reliance and fixing our eyes on Your unearned gift. Teach us to rest in Your love, to trust Your strength—for where we’re weak, you make us strong as we yield to You. Shape us, renew us, lead us with courage and wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, reflect: Where has grace broken through in your recovery? A temptation avoided, a friend’s word, a peace in the storm—these are grace’s marks. Let them stir gratitude and draw you closer to Him."
Thanks for joining me. I hope this message on grace encourages you in your recovery. It’s not about what you do—it’s about what God’s done. If this spoke to you, like, subscribe, and share your story in the comments. Let’s support each other on this path.
Until next time, rest in His grace. God bless.
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