Recovery covers a lot of information. Recovery is a process that can describe moving forward and trying to regain our dignity after an embarrassing event that made us feel foolish. Recovery can be starting over after being hit with significant financial trauma and ruin. Recovery can be thought of as getting up after being knocked down. Recovery is the process we must do after surgery or prolonged illness. Recovery can be getting your head together after missing a fly ball and having an error credited to your performance. Recovery is a process to improve one’s status, financial well-being, and health while living a robust and well-adjusted life to reach our best and fullest potential. Recovery can be viewed as a personal process unique to the individual, including a conscious effort to create new values, change of attitude, make for better feelings, and generally improve oneself. Personal recovery is the effort that attempts to find satisfaction, hope, and faith in our circumstances. First Corinthians 10 promises that God will never give us circumstances that are not uncommon to man. It goes on to say that God will not give us a challenge beyond our abilities and that we will always be able to endure.
We are all in some state of recovery. A person may be trying to get over having their feelings hurt by something someone said. A person may be trying to recover from some event that caused them to be disappointed. After an epiphany that causes a person to see shortcomings, they are trying to change their lifestyle. A person may actually be recovering from some surgery, sickness, or other health issue. “During difficult times, the impact of our problems on others can feel magnified. Mental, emotional, financial, social, and/or physical health challenges can make us feel like a burden. Feeling like a burden affects how we act, perceive ourselves and our relationships, and allow ourselves to be treated by others.” (Covello, 2021) Everyone is recovering from some event, affliction, or issue at any given time. During these recovery periods, every person needs assurance, faith, and kindness from others. We rarely know what others are going through, and then we are uncomfortable knowing what to do and how to help. Hebrews 10 tells us to “stir up one another to love and good works.” Galatians 6 wants us to help bear one another’s burdens.
Joshua 1 reminds us that we are to be strong and courageous and that God is with us wherever we go. We all know that sharing our concerns and asking for help is always the more accessible course to take. But we also operate on the mistaken idea that we should all be strong and not show weaknesses.
“Many of us shy away from sharing our emotions with others, often saying things like ‘I don’t want to be a burden,’ ‘I haven’t told anyone,’ or ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ These phrases reflect pain, loneliness, protectiveness, and silence. We might feel uncomfortable exposing our raw emotions, but being vulnerable actually strengthens our connections with others and increases our emotional well-being and resilience. By understanding and overcoming the fear of burdening others, we can forge deeper, more meaningful relationships.” (Buchwald, 2023)
Ephesians 4 wants us to be kind to one another, understanding, and forgiving. We should all show empathy and sometimes sympathy to those that are in recovery from their individual circumstances. Proverbs 19 suggests that those that are kind will be rewarded for their kindness.
We will need the desire to move past our affliction. This desire can be made up of faith, prayer, and determination. Having friends, family, and dependable associates make the recovery process much more manageable. Jeremiah 33 talks about how God will bring health and healing to those in need. Jeremiah goes on to say that God will provide an abundance of prosperity and security. When faced with the need to recover from some setback, most people will allow their emotions and thoughts to become negative. Worrying about the outcome is a powerful thought process and difficult to escape. Will I survive? Will I be ruined? Will things ever get better? These are just a few of the questions associated with recovery. Isaiah 61 promises that we will receive the oil of joy and the garment of praise from God. As Christians, we need to think positively and not consider worse outcomes. We should always believe in what God tells us and think about all the good that has happened and all the good that will happen. If we truly believe, we will be blessed, and our trials and tribulations will end positively. Faithful belief, honest faith, and following God’s desires will always end better than anything we come up with. In James 1, we are reminded that we Christians will be tested.
“Every child of God is called to mature in the faith and grow in their spiritual life… and throughout the New Testament, we are taught that maturity in the faith is tested and established through trials and tribulations. If we are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are bound to go through various difficulties and dangers, trials and tribulations. Peter reminds us that the testing of our faith is more precious than gold and calls on us to rejoice despite being distressed by various difficulties. At the same time, Paul encourages us to exult in our trials, knowing that tribulation is a necessary step towards spiritual growth and godly wisdom.” (Staff, n.d.)
All types of recovery are complicated propositions that take much energy and faith. Prayer and the fundamental belief in ourselves, our family, and God will help us through whatever circumstances we face. Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” And we cannot forget our favorite verse from Paul. Philippians 4:6 reassures, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Prayer and more prayer will genuinely aid in our recovery.
Buchwald, N. (2023, 6 14). EMBRACING VULNERABILITY: OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF BURDENING OTHERS. Retrieved from Manhattan Mental Health Counseling: https://manhattanmentalhealthcounseling.com/embracing-vulnerability-overcoming-the-fear-of-burdening-others/#:~:text=This%20feeling%20of%20being%20a,can%20help%20you%20overcome%20it.
Covello, N. (2021, 12 20). Feeling Like a Burden. Retrieved from Health In Tandem: https://www.healthintandem.com/blog/feeling-like-a-burden#:~:text=During%20difficult%20times%2C%20the%20impact,to%20be%20treated%20by%20others.
Staff. (n.d.). “Such a man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,. Retrieved from Knowing Jesus : https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/james-1-7