Celebrate Recovery Weekly Encouragement 1-5-23

Facing the Dark Clouds

By Rodney Holmstrom
Global Field Director of
Celebrate Recovery
December 26, 2022
 
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV
 
Sometimes when it gets cold outside or even dark earlier in the day, some of those "old feels" can creep in. Maybe you can relate? It’s where we can feel like we are all alone, and maybe struggle with some depression or anxiousness. This is where the enemy can try to knock us down and out of the race. I'm grateful that the lies the enemy is telling me are the opposite of God’s truth for me. We must remember in those dark times or in the dark clouds we see above us, that God is there waiting for us. When we feel the loneliest, God is nearby.
 
In CR I have learned to lean into the pain I am feeling as it comes up. It can be scary to do that but so much worth it to get me out of the stuck place. It’s so important to let God and others into that muck. As we organize the pain, we can put it into words. We explore not just what has happened but what we may be believing about what is happening. The biggest part of this process comes next - to express it.

The opposite of depression isn’t to feel happy, but to just feel. I know in those hard places I just feel numb. Our goal becomes moving from numbness to feeling. I’ve learned that the process of struggling well with depression is expression to God and others we trust. This is where we begin to see the light in our darkness and “…his glory is revealed” during “fiery ordeals”.
 
Let's commit as a forever family in the recovery journey to make sure we are expressing these feelings and negative thoughts to a loving Father.  
We can do as Moses did in Exodus 20:21 “...approach the thick darkness where God was.” Jesus longs to be with us in these places if we will just invite Him into it.
 
Don’t forget to invite others in the body of Christ into the pain and muck too. Whether it’s in our small group open shares, step study groups, one on one meetings, phone calls and texts, this can make a big difference. They can be instrumental in helping us get to the truth instead of staying stuck in that bed of lies the enemy may be telling us. Seeing our pain in another's eyes of empathy and comfort makes a huge difference that can get us back to the right thinking and back on track.
 
We can’t face this alone. You are not alone. We love you and are so proud of you for being on the journey with us. Keep going!
We can do this process knowing that under the shelter of the dark cloud is God waiting for us.
It’s comforting to know this truth and rest in the hope that others are with us on the journey too.

Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt!
Join us this week as we start off the New Year with Lesson one! We will be exploring denial!
This journey begins with Principle 1, where we admit that we are powerless to control our tendency to do the wrong thing and that our lives have become unmanageable, or out of control. As we start this journey we need to ask ourselves two questions:
Am I going to let my past failures prevent me from taking this journey?
Am I afraid to change? Or, what are my fears of the future?

Dinner at 5:30
Large group, worship and lesson at 6:30

Brian Willems CADC 1
Ministry Leader
Celebrate Recovery
New Life Community
110 N. Nichols
Dinuba CA 93618
Phone 559-591-1176
Cell 949-294-8852