Sharing Your Lives
We reflect God's character the most when we give freely of ourselves with no strings attached, no secret motives, no hidden agenda…Your prayer for someone may or may not change them, but it always changes YOU.
-Craig Groeschel
A beautiful ministry moment that can easily be overlooked is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT):
We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
This right here is the common heart posture of those who serve well in recovery ministry. I am consistently amazed by the common bond experienced by those who follow Jesus. Strangers from across the country, even across the world, experience the love and unity only found in Christ. The connection for those in recovery ministry goes very deep. Joys and sorrows flow out of conversations. Similar stories bring a closeness like no other, where they rejoice together and cry together. There is something special about walking alongside individuals in recovery. Being able to witness the life-transforming work of Christ in a person’s life changes you, as it should. It goes to show an important truth—God designed us for a relationship with Him and others.
In my experience in recovery ministry, I am humbled to have been able to participate in the life stories of those who have walked through the doors of Jericho Road Ministries. It takes a lot of courage for an individual to make the decision that they need help and are overwhelmed with life. Our goal is to affirm their decision for help and to walk with them through their recovery journey.
The memories that hit me most are the long, unplanned conversations that came about with residents from time to time. What I’ve learned through these moments is that those in recovery are quietly working through a lot, and their story matters. Sometimes the conversations revolved around unpacking past life experiences, and other times they were about faith topics. It was in these times that residents experienced breakthroughs in their lives and clarity about their futures. Our staff consistently makes space and time available to converse with residents about what is on their hearts and minds. We desire to introduce residents to Jesus Christ, encourage them in their faith, and share our lives with them. Taking the time to actively listen tremendously helps us to understand our residents more deeply and find space to share the hope of Jesus in the midst of their stories.
The idea of sharing your life with another involves a willingness to be transparent while using wisdom and establishing appropriate boundaries. Both must be in place in recovery ministry. The willingness to be transparent builds rapport, respect, and opportunities to connect on a deeper level. Some residents approach their program guarded and resistant to interaction with others. Opening up to someone can be intimidating, and natural defense mechanisms kick into gear. Establishing an environment and space to share our lives together creates safety, which begins to lower unhealthy guards and resistance. Our prayer for residents is that they would discover peace in their lives and feel more comfortable sharing their life experiences. When a resident builds the confidence to open up and be willing to trust, then hope and healing become more noticeably present in their lives. Our staff notices how residents who begin to open up have a change in their countenance, posture, and approach to the challenges before them. This is a big step in their recovery process.
The REbuilt program intentionally provides time for residents to be patient with themselves and others. My favorite moments are hearing testimonies where residents share about how their lives are now focused on Jesus. Jesus is filling their lives and bringing healing to their souls. To participate in this as a staff member is simply incredible. There have been so many times when residents have encouraged me as they share about what God is teaching them. Residents’ experiences with the Lord are often very fresh and genuine. They tend to outwardly process their spiritual experiences and what they are learning in God’s word. These expressions rejuvenate my faith and, at times, even challenge me. The transparency of residents’ walk with the Lord is full of prime opportunities for spiritual growth and direction. I’m not certain if our residents know how much of an impact they make on the lives of our staff. We are grateful and blessed to participate in their stories and to see the mighty, healing works of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
