The Work of Recovery
Artist Alan Edmon, friend, brother in faith & recovery
Sobriety is simple:
Don’t drink or use, no matter what.
Recovery is deeper:
Trust God. Clean house. Help others.
The Reality of Relapse
The statistics are staggering.
75-80% of people who enter treatment but skip aftercare relapse within 1 year.
That’s not just a number. That’s lives, families, and futures unraveling
The truth is, many who try to quit relapse. Without a support—through a 12-step group, church, or a healthy sober community—most will return to drinking or using within a year.
That’s not because they’re weak. It’s because recovery requires more than just stopping. It requires a change of heart, a spiritual awakening, and new ways of living.People often ask, “Why don’t they just stop? Don’t they see how much damage they’re doing?”
The reality? Most addicts ask themselves the very same question.
At Harbor Rock Recovery
We meet with people all the time, who can't stop—even for the love of God or family.
Denial clouds their vision. Smart, talented people convince themselves they don’t really have a problem. Maybe you’ve known someone like this. Maybe that's been your story.
For many of us, it wasn’t until pain—physical, emotional, relational, even spiritual—brought us to our knees that we finally cried out:
“I surrender.”
“God, I can’t stop—help me.”
Those moments of surrender are sacred. But they’re fragile. The ego (fallen nature) has a way of bouncing back fast, convincing us, “It’ll be different this time,” as we return to old habits. That’s why action is essential.
Seizing the Moment
When someone hits bottom, the best thing we can do is meet them with care, honesty, and hope. To ignore or downplay the struggle is to miss the moment. Addiction is a monster now, but once, maybe not so long ago, it was a solution—a way to cope. It may have worked for a while. But over time, that solution became the problem.Recovery takes:
Time – Because healing doesn’t happen overnight.
People – Because no one recovers alone.
Addiction has roots—causes and conditions that grew over years. Recovery is about digging out those roots and learning new ways to respond—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Some people will need specific help for trauma or certain life dominating patterns. Asking for help is simple but not easy. We know people that can help. #Victorybeginswithsurrender
The Gift of Surrender
Many in recovery describe surrender as a gift from God. They hit bottom, and from there found humility, hope, and healing. Step by step, one day at a time, they began practicing new ways of living—heart, mind, and even where they put their feet.
The goal isn’t just sobriety. It’s a full life—healed, whole, and anchored in faith that brings hope beyond what you can see or feel.
My own story wasn’t quick. I experienced what I call “slow-briety.”
I came to faith in Christ after 12 years clean and sober. I stumbled, got lost, in sobriety, but God and His relentless love found me. Today, I live surrounded by faith, hope, and love.
An Invitation
If you’re searching for the right people to walk with you in recovery but don’t know where to start, let’s talk. I’ll buy the coffee. We’ll walk, share, and discover the next steps together.
Contact Pastor Dan at FREEDOM@Harborrockrecovery.org to schedule a free consultation.
Looking forward,
PD
