Is your spouse dealing with addiction? If so, we don’t have to tell you what a hard and lonely place you stand in. The emotional rollercoaster, uncertainty, and overwhelming sense of helplessness can leave you feeling completely unmoored.
But even in these hard moments, prayer can offer a powerful source of comfort and strength. In this post, we’ll dive into how prayer can be a lifeline and share some practical tips and resources to guide you.
Tap Into the Power of Prayer
For centuries, people have relied on faith to get through life’s toughest challenges. Prayer, in particular, gives us a direct line to God, offering us solace, guidance, and strength when we need it most. And you don’t have to take our word for it; there’s plenty of research to support the power of prayer.
One study shows that prayer helps reduce stress.1 Another shows that prayer helps with depression and anxiety.2 And yet another study shows that religious habits (like prayer) can affect heart health for the better.3
Of course, you won’t know until you immerse yourself in prayer. Since everyone experiences the power of prayer differently, the best way to learn what it can offer is to start a habit of sincere prayer and see what kind of difference it makes in your life.
Finding Strength Through Prayer
When your spouse is struggling with addiction, it’s easy to feel powerless. But prayer can help you tap into a deep well of inner strength and resilience. It not only supports your spouse’s recovery but also gives you the courage and determination to keep going each day.
To make prayer a part of your daily life, try starting each day with a prayer asking for strength, wisdom, and patience. Then, at night, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve gone through and express gratitude for any progress—no matter how small.
Leaning on Your Faith Community
One of the hardest parts of dealing with addiction in a relationship is the isolation. But you don’t have to go through it alone. Getting involved in a faith community or prayer group can offer you a much-needed support network. Whether it’s a local church group or an online community, connecting with others who understand can provide encouragement, empathy, and companionship.
Combining Prayer with Professional Help
While prayer can bring a lot of comfort and strength, remember that it should go hand in hand with professional help. Addiction is complex, and it often requires specialized medical and psychological care. Encourage your spouse to seek treatment through counseling or a residential treatment center.
At the same time, don’t forget about your own well-being. Consider working with a therapist who specializes in helping families affected by addiction. Some faith-based treatment centers offer classes for family members of addicted individuals. These resources can offer tools and strategies to help you cope and take care of yourself while you support your spouse.
By combining both spiritual and professional support, you can create a balanced approach to healing and peace.
How to Pray Better
Ever feel like your prayers bounce off the ceiling? We get that. But here are some ways to elevate your daily prayers.
Pray Out Loud
Try praying out loud and with expression, just like you’re having a conversation with another person. The more authentic the prayer, the better. Pour out your heart to God.
If you are worried about other people hearing you, find a safe play to pray alone (like in your closet, your car, or in a favorite spot in nature). You can also turn on white noise or reverent music to muffle the sound of your prayer.
Write it Down First
If your mind tends to wander in prayer, write down a short list of the things you want to discuss with God before you actually start your prayer. This can guide you to be more specific and on-task in your prayers.
Set an Alarm on Your Phone
Prayer doesn’t have a deadline like work projects or bill paying, so it tends to get pushed down the list—and sometimes, right off the list. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to say a morning and evening prayer.
If you’re conversing sincerely with the Lord a couple of times each day, you’ll be on your way to developing a closer relationship with Him that can sustain you through tough times.
Keep a Journal
This can be a physical journal or even just a running note in your phone. Write down (or type) the specific things you want to remember to pray for. You can also record the little things you’re grateful for and the “tender mercies” from the Lord that you see in your life (e.g., a sunrise, a scripture verse that touched you, a victory for your spouse on his/her journey to sobriety).
A prayer journal can help focus you on what to thank the Lord for and ask Him for as well. It can also serve as a faithful record to look back on on days when you need a spiritual boost.
Conclusion
Dealing with your spouse’s addiction is incredibly painful, but you don’t have to face it alone. Prayer brings God into your life. Let Him help you!
Be patient with yourself and your spouse, celebrate the little victories, and hold onto the belief that healing is possible.
And remember to couple your faith practices with professional help—ideally in a spiritually supportive setting. To get started, contact our faith-based based treatment centers in Utah and Idaho. We can help your loved one heal from their addiction, while giving you the support you need through regular classes geared to your needs.
1https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8567013/
2https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00325481.2016.1209962
3https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36000432/