What True Repentance Is and How to Embrace It in Recovery

In addiction recovery for believers, repentance is one of the most profoundly misunderstood commands. Too often, repentance is reduced to simply saying, “I’m sorry,” or confessing a mistake, but that’s only the bare beginning. True repentance goes far deeper. Repentance is a 180-degree about face… a change of heart and mind that leads to a radical behavior transformation. It’s about turning away from sin and choosing to walk in obedience to God’s will as stipulated in His Word. Repentance is not just a gut-wrenching regret for past actions; it’s an intentional commitment to leave sin behind and never return to it.

The Bible provides a clear picture of repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:10, which says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Worldly sorrow focuses on feeling guilty or ashamed of being caught, while with Godly sorrow, we recognize our offense against God and we have an unstoppable desire to restore our relationship with Him. Repentance born from godly sorrow inspires lasting change. This is especially critical in recovery, where shallow apologies or half-hearted confessions will always fail to break the cycle of addiction.

To truly repent, we must first acknowledge the depth of our sin and its impact on our relationship with God, others, and ourselves. This requires brutal honesty and total humility. Next, we must genuinely turn away from the sin—not just in words but in action. Repentance means replacing old, destructive behaviors with new, Godly habits as defined in Scripture. For someone in recovery, this might involve cutting ties with toxic relationships, committing to accountability, and pursuing daily spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study to renew your mind (Romans 12:2). If you eat three times a day, be in prayer and the Bible four times a day!

Repentance also requires faith. We cannot overcome sin in our own strength, but through Christ. It’s the Holy Spirit that directs and empowers us to live in freedom. True repentance invites God into our struggles, asking Him for forgiveness and strength to walk in His ways. Micah 7:19 reminds us of God’s mercy: “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

The Bible also warns against returning to sin after experiencing God’s forgiveness and grace. Proverbs 26:11 says, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.” This stark imagery shows the futility and destructiveness of falling back into old patterns. Similarly, 2 Peter 2:20-22 delivers a sobering admonition: “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.” Returning to sin not only reopens old wounds but also hardens the heart, making repentance even more difficult or sadly, walking away from Jesus.

The evidence of true repentance is a transformed life. It’s seen in the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). While repentance does not mean immediate perfection, it does mean a new direction. It means taking very real deliberate steps to align your life with God’s truth and refusing to return to the chains of sin.

The story of Lot’s wife in Genesis 19 is a powerful example of the dangers of looking back. As God delivered Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, they were given a clear command: “Don’t look back” (Genesis 19:17). Yet Lot’s wife disobeyed, looking back at the sinful city she was leaving behind. Her longing for what she had left caused her to be turned into a pillar of salt. Her story serves as a sobering reminder that repentance means leaving the past behind and not looking back with regret or desire for the sin God has called us to completely abandon.

If you’re on the journey of recovery, repentance is the foundation for addiction freedom that lasts a lifetime. Know that our walk with Jesus is not about earning God’s forgiveness; His grace is freely given. It’s about intentionally aligning your life with His purpose and experiencing the abundant freedom He promises. True repentance is a crossroad — where sorrow for sin meets the joy of salvation and the power to live a holy (set apart from the world) free life.

Have a blessed rest of your day! My hope is that you understand the true meaning of repentance and then ‘do’ repentance God’s way! Hope to see you next post.

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