Category Archives for "Testimonies"

Recovery From Sexual Addiction

Recovery From Sexual Addiction-

For years, I tried doing recovery on my own.  I felt like I was the only person who struggled with sexual addiction.  After all, RECOVERY is just for people with substance abuse problems, right?  I felt like I was living a double life for about five and a half years.  Off and on I would struggle with internet pornography.  I tried to battle my addiction with my own methods.  I had heard John 8:36 so many times,  “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”  I believed in that scripture for everyone else and their problems.  So badly I wanted that scripture to apply to me.

I had been randomly attending Celebrate Recovery meetings at various locations.  I finally realized that just attending wasn’t enough for me.  I needed to actually work the program.  I chose a sponsor and began working the steps in the Step Study materials.  Choosing my sponsor was like removing a huge weight off my shoulders.  It was such a relief to know that someone else was aware of my struggles.  I didn’t have to feel like I was hiding something all the time.  I began to feel at peace with myself.

James 5:16 states, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”  I was finally able to receive healing.  I no longer had to continue on with my life in guilt and shame.  I finally learned first hand what it meant to be “free indeed.”  To me, Celebrate Recovery has become the judgement free community I needed where I could continually find encouragement, acceptance, and healing.

Carmen M.

I Came to Celebrate Recovery to Help

I came to Celebrate Recovery to help…

I came to Celebrate Recovery to help on the leadership team.  I had been sober 20 years and agreed to help with our small group addictions table.  It didn’t take me long to realize I hadn’t arrived and that I was as close to a drink as the ones who had one day clean, because it became more evident that I was in denial myself.  I had a hard time admitting that I was steeped in resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness.  I was 20 years clean and still on STEP 1!  I had to admit I had a problem and was powerless over it.

Daily I would try in my own strength to lay it down and daily I would fail.  I was stuck!  I would beg God to encounter me with his love, I would read the Word daily, I went to church somewhere almost every night of the week and got enough prayer to save an entire country yet I was getting worse.  I could not control my tendency to do the wrong thing.  All my striving got me nowhere.

One day my sponsor gently nudged me to forgive.  She said forgiveness isn’t saying that person is right or that their actions were fair but it would free me.  “It has been said that forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentments and removes the handcuffs of hate.  It is the power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”

So that is what I did.  I forgave.  I simply made a decision to forgive and let God handle all of the unfairness and hurt. I stopped trying to bring judgement myself and let God have his way in me and in the situation.  Much to my surprise, God freed me and began to change my heart.  It is God’s work to do!  My job is to submit to the changes he wants to make in my life.  We become so fearful thinking God is going to ruin our life somehow, when all along he if full of goodness, love and knows what is best to bring about a life full of abundance and peace.

Almost as soon as I forgave, he encountered me with his love.  He showed me his heart towards me and it wasn’t bad!  He gave me the impression that he loved me so deeply, right where I was at, even in my struggles.  And I had a sense that He would be with me every step of the way.  It’s the same for our small group at Celebrate Recovery.  They love me right where I am at, even in my struggle, and are there for me every step of the way.

Tammy T.

I Lacked Confidence in God

I Lacked Confidence in God

I lacked the confidence in God to follow through with what I believed He wanted me to do, mainly because of the consequences that came with my decisions.  But I discovered by not confront issues, including fear, the consequences were unbearable.  Shortly after I started attending CR, a leader told me I was an easy target and I responded with, “You’re right!”

I was so angry with myself.  I had talked and talked about the issues with my husband, to no avail.  He would tell me the problem was mine and that he didn’t have a problem.  I felt so powerless and angry.

I was convinced divorce was coming.  I ended up paralyzed with fear and not able to take action like I should.  But my God was too good to let me stay there. He grew my faith in Him, beyond my circumstances and my fears.  He replaced my fear with faith.  God dealt with me, my husband, and our marriage.

I have always believed that God loved my husband, but I struggled believing that He loved me.  I now know that God loves me… all of me… always.  My marriage is now established on God’s love for us and not the other way around.  I now understand that our relationship doesn’t depend on who or what I am, but who and what He is.  By His Grace I’ve been saved.  And I am so very thankful.

Cindy M.