Not Off and On Sobriety – Healed for Life

Finding True Freedom from Addiction in Christ

When we talk about overcoming and ending addiction, the world often points to “sobriety” as the ultimate goal… a state of temporary abstinence, a milestone to celebrate. They give chips or other little trinkets. The things is, trinkets, celebrations, and chips are all meaningless when it’s temporary. Why bother? As followers of Christ, we are called to something far deeper, something real that we can count on, something permanent. Jesus tells us that repentance will heal us. Sobriety might temporarily stop the behavior, but healing through Jesus restores the heart, renews the mind, and sets us free PERMANENTLY. Where in Scripture does Jesus heal just for a little while and then disease or sickness kept coming back… again and again? The answer is NOWHERE!

As a true believer, you’re not a cat, clawing your way through the day to make sure you stay ‘clean’. You are a child of GOD – healed for a lifetime.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

The Limits of What the World Calls Sobriety

Sobriety is a good thing. Please don’t misunderstand me. The thing is that it’s temporary. The disease theorists tell their followers that it’s a day to day fight. For all too many, it feels like living in a prison of willpower, where the addiction still whispers, “I dare you”, in your head, waiting for a weak moment to attack again.

Isaiah 53:5 says, “By His wounds we are healed.”

Healing: God’s Promise of Transformation

The good news is that God doesn’t leave us stuck in that cycle. He doesn’t call us to merely manage our brokenness. He offers to make us whole. In John 10:10, Jesus says,

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Healing isn’t about patching up the old self; it’s about becoming a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Addiction thrives in the “old self”… the wounds, the shame, the guilt, the lies we’ve believed about who we are. Healing happens when we let Jesus rewrite that story which bring us forever healing and His peace.

What Does Healing Look Like?

So, how do we move from sobriety to healing? It’s a relationship with the One who heals… Jesus Christ and Him alone. Here are three biblical truths to anchor us:

1. Surrender, Not Struggle
   Sobriety relies on our strength. Healing begins when we admit we can’t do it without Jesus. Psalm 34:18 promises, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Bring your addiction, your pain, and your failures, to Him. He’s not waiting to condemn you; He’s waiting to lift you up.
2. Renew Your Mind
   Addiction isn’t just physical. Addiction is mental and spiritual. Romans 12:2 urges us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Fill your thoughts with God’s truth: You are loved (John 3:16). You are forgiven (1 John 1:9). You are strong in Him (Philippians 4:13). As your mind absorbs His Word, the Holy Spirit takes over and the grip of addiction leaves.
3. Walk in Freedom
   Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Every moment you spend with Jesus cuts the chains and sets you FREE. You’re not just “not using”… you’re living as the person God created you to be. You are “a new creation in Christ“.

A Living Testimony

Think of the woman at the well in John 4. She didn’t have a substance addiction, but she was trapped by shame, broken relationships, and a life of chasing things that could never satisfy. When Jesus met her, He didn’t tell her to “try harder” or “stay sober” from her old ways. He offered her living water, a forever source of life that healed her from the inside out. She left that well totally transformed, not just “managing” her past, but free to share her powerful testimony with others.

That’s what healing looks like. It’s about being made new, day by day, through the power of Christ.

A Prayer for Healing

If you’re reading this and longing for more than sobriety, take a moment to pray:
“Lord Jesus, I’m tired of fighting on my own. I don’t just want to stop. I want to be healed. Take my soul, my mind, my spirit, my flesh, m addiction, my pain, my brokenness, and make me new. Show me who You created me to be. I trust You to set me free. I repent of it all and promise to follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

Thought to think about

Sobriety is just temporary, but God’s healing is for life. You don’t have to settle for a life of “not using.” In Christ, you can be healed… fully, deeply, eternally. Step into that promise today. You’re not defined by your addiction. You are defined as His child! Be a follower and not a fan.

Have a blessed rest of your day knowing that your addiction is dust in the wind. It’s blown away and you are forever healed in Jesus name. Hope to see you next post.