In recovery circles it’s common to hear people speak of spiritual awakenings. This simply refers to a change in personality profound enough to make recovery from alcoholism possible—and I’ve seen that change show up in many different ways.
For some, these are spectacular and revolutionary changes that happen very quickly, followed by a vast shift in feelings and outlook. But most of us have awakenings that develop much more slowly over a longer period of time.
The funny thing is that the person who has had this experience quite often is not even aware of the changes, so we get to point them out. Moreover, these types of changes could hardly be brought about by years of counseling or discipline. They just come. They’re nothing short of a miracle brought about by a loving God, and if we continue to cooperate with Him, there’s no limit to our growth.
But perhaps the most revolutionary change we experience is in our own conception of who God really is. We’ve had such flawed ideas for most of our lives, and what a wonderful feeling comes from seeing Him in a new light!
The Savior was always loving, compassionate, and kind toward every man, woman, and child He met. His primary goal was to show them who the Father was, and this is made clear in John 12:45 when He said, “He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me,” and later, in John 14:9 when He said even more clearly, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
When I witness the acts of selfless kindness in those who are newly sober, I see the Father at work in the heart of one who still doesn’t know Him, but longs to.
I believe there’s nothing stronger than unconditional love—and that attraction works far better than promotion. When I see someone who has what I want, I listen to them carefully. I may not understand everything they say, or be ready to follow in their footsteps. But I’m listening. Then, sometimes years later, when I’m confronted with difficulties that drive me to despair, I’m suddenly willing to follow their lead.
Many times friends have asked me about the God of my understanding, and I’m always happy to share. To them, the concept of a loving God is like a refreshing drink of water. They know I have no axe to grind, and they appreciate that I’m not pressuring them to adopt my beliefs. Is there a more effective way to witness than sharing the amazing changes God has brought about in my life?
Even difficulties are opportunities to let God demonstrate His power through us. As frightened as I’ve been when facing life-threatening illnesses, my faith that God will bring good things out of bad situations has kept me going. And perhaps there’s no other time when our light shines any brighter.
I’ve experienced many “awakenings” in my life, and I’ll be the first to say that I’m still waking up to the fact that some of my old ideas are wrong. I’m also aware that every person He puts into my life is destined to help me see something I’ve missed.
The old guys in recovery used to say, “You grow or you go, son.” And I still hear their voices in my head. Am I still growing? Or am I deliberately trying to sleep in a bit longer?
I believe my destiny hangs on those questions. It’s that important.
