Don't Quit Before The Miracle Happens
Wednesday June 12, 2019
"Don't quit before the miracle happens" is a slogan that's been around Alcoholics Anonymous for quite a while. Someone has added this phrase to it, "Anything worthwhile takes time and patience." These words apply to more than choosing not to go back to our substance of choice.
Be strong. Don’t give up. God will reward you for your work. Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up. (2 Chronicles 15:7, Galatians 6:9 NIRV)
Good things take effort and patience. As cute as they are to watch, little folks playing hockey do more falling down on the ice than shooting pucks and scoring goals. Some of those little folks will stick with the game, and one day in the future, end up in the NHL. In between, there is lots of practice at the rink in the early morning hours of cold winter days, plus hours of training at a gym, and time watching videos of games, and so on. Everything worth doing takes time and patience. Finding the life that God has planned for us is even more important than getting good at a sport. It takes time and practice to recognize what life looks like as a dependable person. We'll try some things and leave them behind. We’ll struggle to do other things until we master them, and they become routine. New healthy behaviours take time to become normal actions. In one study it was found that on average it took 66 days for a new behaviour to become normal. The time could be as short as 18 days and as long as 254 days.
God promises: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NIRV)
God is working in us. Step Two reminds us that it is God who is restoring us to sanity. He will hold us steady and encourage us while we learn. Let’s stick with God until the miracle happens.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me remember today that You are with me supporting and strengthening me as I establish new and healthy ways of living. Give me patience with myself and others as I grow and learn. Amen
©2019 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/
Audio for Don't Quit Before The Miracle Happens
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.