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Writer's pictureCharlene Stevens Jenkins

Denial could be the reason


As I shared last month, Celebrate Recovery (CR) is a Christ-centered 12-Step Program with 8 Recovery Principles from the Bible. CR is for everyone—people bound by addictions to drugs or alcohol, and again for everyone. It’s in more than 35,000 churches around the world. Our Higher Power is Jesus and He has the power to help us deal with every single one of our hurts, hang ups, habits, issues, problems, or whatever. No matter what you may be dealing with, you don’t have to struggle alone. We have an amazing support group.

At the beginning of the year, we always start with Principle One and Step 1, which are based on Matthew 5:3, Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor, and Romans 7:18, For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Our first Lesson is Denial, which is defined as the action of declaring something true to be untrue. We discuss denial at the beginning of the year because it can hinder us from making progress and moving forward. Denial can have us stuck in cycles of addictive and compulsive behaviors because we don’t want to admit that we have a problem and that we need help. I was there.

There was a time when I didn’t want anyone to know that I wasn’t doing so well. I write about it in my book WHEN I WAS 40: Overcame Some Challenges, Still Learning and Growing. One day I realized that I had to put my pride aside because it was keeping me from receiving the help that I needed. This is how I found that help.

After I fell in love with my job as a Substance Abuse Counselor, God opened the door for Celebrate Recovery at Live Oak Church. Our goal was not to conduct counseling, but to start a support group for them. I remember it so clearly even now that while I prepared for our first study of the 12 Steps, I realized I am one of them. I recognized I had problems and issues that I needed to allow God to work on in me. I admitted to myself that I needed healing, then I greatly benefited from being a participant-leader. My transparency was liberating for me and others in the group. So many of us in our local CR, and millions worldwide, have been set free and delivered since the program started back in 1991.


Is it possible that you or someone you know may need to connect with a local CR? If you think you cannot learn anything from CR, it’s possible you may be in denial. Why? Because Romans 3:23 says For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. If we look around our homes, neighborhoods, jobs, and places of worship, we will see that people are hurting. Jesus is the answer for every addiction, anxiety, challenge, fear. You name it, Jesus can handle it. He died and rose again with the power over death, hell, and the grave. Tell yourself or someone else it’s time to step out of the denial. Find a group by visiting celebraterecovery.com and select ‘Locator.’ You can read all of my blogs and order my book at charlenestevensjenkins.com. Call me, email or DM. Let’s communicate. I’m still here to encourage, inspire and motivate. I’m praying for you.

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