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Recovery Reflections
by Melissa Gissy Witherspoon
CARPE DIEM – SEIZE THE DAY!
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34 NIV). This beautiful scripture brings instant relief to me each time I read it. Life can be so hectic that we don’t know if we are coming or going. In a world that revolves around instant gratification and demands immediate responses, slowing down and being present in the moment can seem almost impossible.
HIS GRACE IS NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR ALL OF HIS PEOPLE.
Having the opportunity to connect with you as I write this brings gratitude to my heart and creates a connection between us and our Creator. It reminds me of how important it is to slow down, find my center with Jesus, and ask the important question: God, what is Your will for me… just for today? His answer often includes reminders to stay focused on Him, present with Him, humble through Him, and feed His sheep.
It has been a journey to find acceptance in the idea of present-moment living—to let the anxieties fade as I draw close to the presence of what God has prepared for me, one day at a time. We can certainly miss the abundant blessings He has for us if we get too far ahead of ourselves. For me, before there could be acceptance of this concept, there had to be faith. And before I had faith, there was hope. Hope for a life worth living that was free from addiction to drugs and alcohol. Hope for a relationship with a power greater than myself—God.
I have been in recovery from Substance Use Disorder (better known as addiction) for almost eleven years. In my ministry work through my non-profit, SoberNow, I bring hope to others that addicts can and do recover. I share time and time again how God saved me from my desperate suicide attempt on my basement floor at the rock bottom of my disease of addiction. I was a woman who, for decades, turned her back on God. If I did ever go to Him or acknowledge Him, it was more of a desperate plea to get me out of a situation mixed with empty promises—that if He did rescue me, I would be better or do better next time.
SIGNS BRING US HOPE AND ENCOURAGE US TO KEEP GOING SO WE CAN KEEP GROWING THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST!
Along my journey of recovery, I came to understand that God constantly showers me with His grace and mercy. He rescued me and called me to share hope in recovery through my testimony, inviting me to humbly walk with Him daily—to seize each day and learn to be grateful for everything life has to offer, including the peaks and the pits. His grace is not only for me but for all of His people. He wants all of us to join Him and walk with Him!
Carpe Diem is a phrase from the Roman poet Horace, which literally means “Pluck the day,” though it’s usually translated as “Seize the day.” God tells us that we can do all things through Christ who gives (us) strength (Philippians 4:13 NIV). And so I pray daily to not only be intentional, staying in the moment, but also to draw close to God and always follow His will for me.
It is never too late to recognize you have fallen into the strongholds of addiction—a trap set by the devil meant to keep us from a relationship with our merciful and loving Father. Over the last decade, through the unity of the Holy Spirit, step by step, one day at a time, I have slowly and steadily built a life free from the chains of addiction. My vow to God and myself is that I will share my testimony of redemption through God’s grace and mercy all the days of my life—until my very last breath.
It is by no mistake that this first column of “Recovery Reflections” for Voice of Truth is debuting in September, National Recovery Month. This month is set aside as a national observance to educate people that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. God continuously gifts us confirmation that He is paving the path we are walking by aligning things perfectly. These signs bring us hope and encourage us to keep going so we can keep growing the kingdom of Christ!
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or substance use disorder, there is hope! Recovery is possible, and, as Jesus taught, “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV). Numerous resources are available, and millions (yes, millions!) of people already in recovery are holding the lamp, waiting to lead you or your loved one out of the darkness. You are not alone! Daily, I pray God will grant us the serenity to accept the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen!
For information on mental health issues or substance use disorder, visit the national website for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.samhsa.gov/ or call the national hotline at 1-800-662-HELP.
Melissa is Founder/CEO of the non-profit Sober-Now, a motivational speaker, social media influencer, best-selling 4X award-winning author of I’m Sober…So Now What? A Journey of Hope and Healing, contributing author of the international best-seller Miracle Mindset, and a contributing author of the best-seller Hope Alive.
To stay in touch with her, visit Linktr.ee/sobernow or email her at Melissa@Sober-Now.com.
