There are times in people’s lives when they lose their faith. However, the lessons learned from the Bible and faith leaders give many hope and belief despite even the worst. Things like illness or the loss of a loved one or job can make anyone question why and where God is. Yet, a crisis of faith isn’t a sign that all hope is lost. Struggling with your faith is a part of being a Christian. Don’t lose faith in yourself.
Substance Addiction Is a Thief
Substance use disorder (SUD) can test your faith. Alcohol or drugs pull you away from your core values, family, and religion. You may not notice the slow drift from the path of positive life choices. Maybe you build walls that prevent you from seeing the harm you’re doing to yourself. Give yourself the patience and love you deserve.
A million little things are what can lead you on a path of health and love. Unfortunately, substance addiction is a thief. SUD invades your life without mercy, creeping in and taking over everything good. You can lose your sense of self and damage relationships. When you lose sight of who you are, you also drift away from your beliefs and source of self-esteem. The decrease in self-esteem creates a void. Your urge to fill that void with alcohol or drugs is a threat to your well-being.
In substance addiction treatment, you will often work with your therapist to recognize harmful behavior patterns that affect your relationships. Unfortunately, these relationships include the ones you have with yourself. Ask yourself what you would do to repair a friendship fractured by mistrust or pain. Most would do anything to rebuild a supportive, loving relationship. So why wouldn’t you do the same for your relationship with yourself? Take back what your SUD stole from you. Begin to love and accept the greatness within your mind and body.
Faith Is a Circle
Faith is similar to a Ferris wheel. There are times when you’re on the top and times when you’re at the bottom. You know that you will rise again when you are at the bottom. When you’re at the top, the opportunity to see what is below, above, and far away is awe-inspiring. What about the times between? As you descend from the top, find faith in knowing you won’t always be at the bottom. Use the time to consider what lies ahead. Hebrews 11:6, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,” is a reminder to stay committed to your journey.
The bottom of the Ferris wheel, like life, is a time of hope. When you’re at ground level, look around and observe those on the ground. Are you searching for a specific face? People look for their loved ones when they reach the bottom. The love from them makes rising a part of the process. Faith is the face in the crowd, the knowledge that as you descend, you will rise again. Faith is there even when you think you lost it as you spun around.
Finding Faith
Your faith is what carries you through the circle. Likewise, substance addiction treatment is what can guide you through. When you embrace the Twelve Steps, you hand yourself over to a higher power. Acknowledging you need help is why you should enter a faith-based substance addiction treatment program. Faith-based programs can reconnect you with your core values and belief in a higher power.
Your commitment to discovering the root cause of your SUD can help you find the path to accepting the love and support given by those who love you. Once you have a strong foundation, you can give yourself to others. Volunteering with faith-based organizations is a positive way to open your heart and practice the word of God.
Faith and Volunteering
Volunteering is a way to build others up. Faith-based organizations in your community give to others so they may be healed. Your work as a volunteer follows the teachings of the Bible. For example, becoming a peer to a person in a substance addiction program is vital. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Becoming a mentor in a peer-to-peer program is building another up as you reconnect and find strength.
Volunteering at a faith-based organization is beneficial for many reasons because faith-based organizations do the work of a higher power. They provide food, shelter, and care. The people who work there or volunteer are committed to doing good. Many also follow the word of their higher power. They do good because it is a part of their core values.
Another benefit of volunteering at a faith-based agency is the inclusion of a higher power. You can find those who share similar beliefs. In addition, some organizations may have faith leaders you can turn to for support and guidance.
Finding the right balance of hope, loyalty, and belief after losing faith is a process. Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, remind yourself that many lose their faith because of uncontrollable events. Your higher power doesn’t want to see you suffer from a loss or substance use disorder. All hope is not lost if you leave or drift away from your faith. Instead, you can reconnect with your higher power and rise again at the point of loss. Renaissance Ranch Treatment Centers is a faith-based substance addiction treatment center committed to guiding you to your core values and faith. Our comprehensive treatment program includes individual, family, group, and holistic therapies. We integrate the Twelve Steps to help you on your way to living a substance-free life. Your belief and trust in us are why we are here. To learn more, call (801) 308-8898.