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You Can’t Want It More Than They Do

Recovery (Substance Abuse) Compassion Ministry

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-01-15

Author: Mitchell Dillon
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ILLUSTRATION

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). The Apostle Paul, like every pastor, knew what it was to carry the burden of concern for others. As a pastor for over thirty years, I understand just how heavy that burden can be, and the emotional toll it can take when it’s carried over an extended period of time. I’ve become convinced that there are certain things you must learn to avoid if you’re going to last in ministry. Allow me to illustrate. 

My last church was a recovery church. My heart’s burden was to see every person who passed through those doors experience deliverance from the devastating effects of drug addiction and alcoholism.  Such a ministry can be very emotionally frustrating, especially when there are families with young children involved, and the addict continues to relapse. One such case involved a woman who had recently lost her husband and daughter to a tragic accident and had just checked herself out of recovery in the middle of her program. 

The future of her young sons hung in the balance as her church support team sat around a dining table to counsel her. It became pretty clear, after listening to how she was going to “work out” her own sobriety program, that every person sitting around that table was more committed to her success than she was. 

I finally said, “it’s clear to me this isn’t going to work. We can’t care more about your sobriety than you do. When that changes, let us know. For now, we need to step aside and let you do what you’ve already determined you’re going to do.”

APPLICATION

There’s a limit to how much we can and should try to help those who fail to see their own need.  When you’re in the caring business, you often have to put a check on your compassion. You can’t care more than the ones you’re trying to help. If you do, you’ll burn out on the wrong people, on the ones that can’t be helped, and you’ll have nothing left for the others. 

This is God’s dilemma, as well. He cares for each of us more than we care for ourselves. But just like my alcoholic friend, we rebuff His care when we should welcome it. We do this because we don’t really want to be delivered from our destructive behaviors, from our addictions.  So we reject His role in our recovery.  We assure Him we’ll do just fine handling it our way.  And God, being as wise as He is compassionate, steps aside. 

The Worst Of All Positions

Recovery (Substance Abuse) God's Love Parenting

Contributed By: Mitchell Dillon | Date Posted: 2014-12-13

Scripture: Luke 22:42

Author: Mitchell Dillon
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ILLUSTRATION

I recently asked a large group of young people at a drug and alcohol rehab center who it was that said "no" to their addictive behavior. The answer for most was a parent. When I asked them which "no" made them most angry, the consensus was the refusal to bail them out of jail. I then asked how this refusal made them feel. They were anger, they were outraged, they responded with resentment and outbursts of profanity, they ranted, they raved, and they made every effort to shame and guilt their uncooperative parents.

When asked if they now understood why it was important that their parents allowed them to suffer the consequences of their poor choices, to a person they said they did. Finally, I asked a question that seemed to surprise them. "Have you thanked your parents for saying no?" Not one of them had.

Clearly, these young people had failed to appreciate the terrible position in which they had placed their parents. What a nightmare for these parents to have to choose between helping their child, or refusing their pleas in the hopes that the pain might work to their good. What a terrible choice for a parent to have to make.

APPLICATION

Here is where this lesson convicted me. Although I have never put my earthly parents in such a situation, I have forced my heavenly Father to make a terrible choice. Because of my stubborn disobedience, He had to choose between me and His Son. When Jesus cried out in the garden, "take this cup from me," the Father had to choose, He couldn't say "yes" to Jesus and "yes" to us.

Do you recognize that it was your actions that put Him in that terrible situation? Have you thanked your heavenly Father for saying "no" to His Son so that He could say "yes" to you?

""Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

Mitchell Dillon, founder of Illustration Exchange

Vain Promises

Recovery (Substance Abuse) God's Promises Temptation

Source: Ann Landers' advice column

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-04-12

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9 ; 2 Corinthians 1:20

Author: unknown
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ILLUSTRATION

Years ago, an alcoholic sent famed advice columnist Ann Landers the follow message:

We drank for happiness and became unhappy.
We drank for joy and became miserable.
We drank for sociability and became argumentative.
We drank for friendship and made enemies.
We drank for sleep and awakened without rest.
We drank for strength and felt weak.
We drank “medicinally” and acquired health problems.
We drank for relaxation and got the shakes.
We drank for bravery and became afraid.
We drank for confidence and became doubtful.
We drank to make conversation easier and slurred our speech.
We drank to feel heavenly and ended up feeling like hell.
We drank to forget and were forever haunted.
We drank for freedom and became slaves.
We drank to erase problems and saw them multiply.
We drank to cope with life and invited death.

APPLICATION

The temptations of life deliver exactly the opposite of what they promise. Jesus, on the other hand, delivers more than promised, more than what we are able to comprehend.

"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Take A Deep Breath and Grip the Wheel

Recovery (Substance Abuse) Determination Dependence on God

Contributed By: Bruce Kay | Date Posted: 2013-12-18

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10

Author: Mary Natl, Women's Encourager Coach
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Love Through Our Actions

Recovery (Substance Abuse) Love (Human) Gratitude

Contributed By: Bruce Kay | Date Posted: 2013-12-18

Scripture: 1 John 3:18

Author: Rodney Holmstrom, Celebrate Recovery National Assi
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It's Not Safe Having "Them" Around Us

Recovery (Substance Abuse) Risk Mercy

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2013-02-01

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8

Author: Rodney Holmstrom, Nat'l Assimilation Coach, Celebr
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Christmas - A Recovery Mission!

Recovery (Substance Abuse) Redemption Christmas

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-12-21

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Author: Rick Warren
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Woman Hit With Bowling Ball for Saying No to Drink

Recovery (Substance Abuse) Faithfulness Consequences

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2011-12-24

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Wag Those Tongues to God's Glory

Self-control Edification Wisdom

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-11-16

Scripture: James 3:5 ; Proverbs 18:21

Author: Illustration Exchange
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A Cleverly Disguised Christian

Identity Transformation Priorities

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-10-18

Scripture: Galatians 2:20 ; Romans 12:2

Author: Illustration Exchange
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