Progress, not Perfection

Recovery, like so many other important things in our life, is a process. We don’t just wake up one morning six inches taller, thirty pounds lighter, or able to play an instrument that we’ve never picked up before. And, except in the rarest of cases, we aren’t going to wake up tomorrow completely free of the unhealthy habits and thinking patterns we go to bed with tonight.

As humans, we often get impatient with processes. We don’t want to wait, and we certainly don’t want to have to “fight the good fight.” We want what we want and we want it NOW.

We have to come to terms with the idea that it’s going to take time and it’s going to be a struggle. We’re going to have to do things that aren’t comfortable. We’re going to have to deny ourselves things we really think we want or need. From time to time, we’re going to experience discouragement, failure and shame, but we have to keep pushing on toward the goal in spite of our stumbles and slips.

If someone really wanted to lose weight they would likely have to avoid certain foods they love and strive to acquire a taste for new healthier foods. They might have to increase their exercise and find new non-food ways to deal with stress, frustration and celebration. Sometimes they might even have to turn a deaf ear to family and friends that say, “stop, you’ve lost enough,” or “c’mon, one piece of pie isn’t going to hurt you” or “why are you putting yourself through this . . . you were fine the way you were.” But, most importantly, they have to resist the temptation to give up when it gets exhausting or they get off track and indulge in a big bowl of ice cream instead of the handful of carrot sticks they had planned to snack on. If they just keep at it, they WILL reach their goal.

It’s the same for any addiction or compulsion. We have to make changes. We have to stop listening to our thoughts and those of others that say “there’s no hope,” “give up,” “look at you, you failed again, you can’t do this” or “why are you making such a big deal about this, everybody does it.”

Above all, we must continually resist that nagging urge to give up. We CAN persevere if we keep one eye on the goal AND the other on our God that is always there, willing and able, to guide and support us on this path to healing and freedom.

“As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” — James 5:11 (NIV)