Making recovery

We all need to make recovery at different stages of our lives. When I think of recovery, I consider the parable of the prodigal son and I am struck by the verse, ‘He came to himself’. Luke15:17. We all deviate in attitude or behaviour at times and have need of restoration, which involves more than just regrouping or regaining our composure. We need to come to ourselves and return to the path that the Lord has prepared for us.

There is an amazing statement of recovery in the book of Ecclesiastes which says, ‘What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires’. Eccl 6:9. Of course, we know this to be true. What the soul desires is generally the thing that takes us astray; an aspiration, a goal or hope that is not consistent with His plan for our lives. It is far better to fix our gaze on the path that the Lord has predetermined for us. However, this does not mean that He has mapped out every step that we should take, for He has prepared a broad way in which we can exercise our own freedom and accountability.

We read in the next verse in Ecclesiastes that ‘whatever exists has already been named and it is known what a man is; for he cannot contend with Him who is stronger than he is’. You and I have already been named, nominated and predestined and we have seventy years to fulfill that ‘name’. In the work that I do, it is a great grief to me to watch people squander their inheritance like the prodigal son.

Maybe you have wandered far from your path and have wasted the gifts and capacities that He has imparted. Perhaps offence, disappointment, disillusionment or even apathy have caused you to stray. But you can make recovery! We come to ourselves by humbly bowing to His will and by letting go of the things that hinder and distract us.

David Falk

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Feature Articles
July 2010

Making recovery

Where is He?

Resurrection on trial

Buy now, pray later

Set alight

Seven things that God hates

Women's work

Finding pillars

Coming of age