The fear of critics who insist that as soon as you get serious about God’s participation in the recovery process as written about in the Bible, is that religious fanaticism is merely a distraction from the lure of addictive drugs of choice. Critics will argue that as the “spell” of religion wears off that those participating in the transformative recovery process will return to active use of their drug of choice and reengage in an addictive lifestyle. Critics will argue that recovering people relapsing into addiction will dismiss the perceived power of God in their life and lose most of what they had gained while involved in TRT.
If the critics of TRT are correct, then while the treatment appeared to be effective for some time, there really was not transformation. The butterfly cannot turn back into a caterpillar. The caterpillar crawls and is barely mobile compared to the flying butterfly. Who has ever seen a butterfly crawl?
Transformative Recovery clients are not immune from relapse. Just like the caterpillar can return to harmful places that can threaten its livelihood, so can the butterfly. The difference with people committed to transformative recovery is that even relapse into addictive thinking and behavior is literally a prayer away from powerful transformative change. A number of TRT clients upon follow-up have admitted to having relapsed. The vast majority report that through prayer, and often times reengaging with their sponsor/friend in recovery who prays with them, adjusts rather quickly into a framework of recovery.
Ambivalence in Relapse
As the saying goes, “relapse is a part of recovery.” The success of TRT is that Christ does not leave us alone, even in the face of relapse. The access to a spiritual relationship with God does not switch on and off. People in relapse do not usually stop believing, but rather return to ambivalence and choose to do the things they do not want to do. They may even relapse into doing the things they hate (Romans 7:14-25). They are often miserable and frustrated emotionally after giving in to addictive urges since the behavior is, once again, self-defeating. Jesus Christ is a prayer away at all times. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20, NLT)
Individuals in a progressive stage of relapse may or may not return to a lifestyle of addictive behavior, but one thing is generally consistent: they do not want to be stuck again in spiraling cycles of addiction and failure. After a period of becoming lazy about outside-in recovery, they speak of spending more time talking to God, getting to their recovery meetings, Bible reading, frequent exercise, and following through with regular contact with their experienced friend(s) in recovery. The prevailing trend among TRT clients experiencing a period of relapse is that they reach out to God and experience peace and empowerment to resume authentic recovery.
Substantiating evidence indicates that recovering people who return to a period of problematic behavior tend not to remain in that condition. Rather, they have an overwhelming desire and preference to experience God’s mercy and peace in their life. Once they have known the joy of recovery they tend to want to live there. Client One has reported to have relapsed with alcohol on several occasions. Each time, the reality of his past life with alcohol leads him to pray and with his voice ask God for help. He reports that each and every time God has been faithful and Client One resumes a lifestyle discipline of recovery. He does not experience the “whoosh” anymore like he did the first time he prayed. It is not necessary. Alcohol and addictive behavior does not have the power it did. Freedom, he has learned, is in the not having to give in to the urge, even if he still has desire. He has come to believe by faith that God will deliver on his promise to help and empower him to recovery.
From Relapse to Recovery
TRT clients have at their disposal, access to the comprehensive TRT curriculum that continues to be their guide into the discipline and lifestyle of recovery for a lifetime. The TRT curriculum, titled “Freedom from ‘Me’dom”, contains the exercises for managing distorted thoughts and feelings, recovery-oriented problem solving, working through ambivalence, etc., and all of the Scripture applied to the process of problem identification through resolution.
TRT clients, who have reported having issues with relapse over the years, consistently identify their relationship with God as the primary resource to their renewed recovery. Clients in the midst of relapse often return to aftercare groups or active TRT groups for help to reengage and reinvest into the discipline of Transformative Recovery.
“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation (recovery), obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:12-13, NLT)
These are the instructions from the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. He also wrote about recovering people being transformed by the renewing of their minds. The transformative relationship that recovering people have with God is that it requires both parties participating in the relationship. As recovering people leave the therapy setting, the instruction is to respect and honor God as the one who is working in them spiritually to think differently and empowers them to do the work and activity of real recovery. The transforming power is in the relationship recovering people have with God. Whether it is relapse prevention or intervention, the role of the TR therapists is to help facilitate this relationship.
