I’ve learned many lessons during my recovery journey. Powerful, life-changing lessons. But the most powerful is this — Getting out of God’s way is the ONLY way to lasting healing and peace.
I’ve written about surrender many times since my journey began. I always return to that one word —surrender. Which is getting out of God’s way.
It’s not by accident.
It’s a concept I struggle with, pray about, and practice daily. Why? Because addiction is a manipulative and wily adversary. It feeds off my desire for control. Its power over me depends on it.
Surrender is about relinquishing control, all of it.
For recovery to even begin, surrender has to be immediate and absolute.
There’s no halfway in this journey. No way to tuck a bit of control into my back pocket to pull out later. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Especially given the stakes in this struggle. It’s more than good versus evil. It’s my soul on the line and my eternity.
That’s a high price. One I’m not willing to barter with.
So when I say surrender is the first and most important step we take, I mean it.
Without complete and willing surrender, the battle is lost before it even begins.
Our higher power is God alone.
God’s power is not an abstract metaphor that we can pretty up in worldly terminology. It’s not the universe itself. It’s not anything we can see, touch, smell, or put a name to.
Our higher power is our Creator Himself. Maker of the universe and everything within it.
There’s no other.
Surrender means getting out of God’s way completely. And it demands our courage, trust, vigilance, and faith.
Without it, we will fail.
The lessons I share with you now are the ones that compel me forward in my recovery journey.
When I stumble, they lift me.
In times of crisis, they remind me to stay out of God’s way.
When the path seems easy, they caution me to remain vigilant.
In moments of doubt, they infuse me with His strength.
When the darkness tries to overtake me, they give me the courage to move forward in trust and faith.
I do not question them. I believe in them and rely on them. For they come from God and His Spirit that lives within me.
They are available to you. In surrender, you will come to know them, believe in them, and rely on them too.
Getting out of God’s way takes courage.
The God who created you and loves you unconditionally is the same God who stands beside you now.
Open your heart to His strength. He will provide all the courage you need to overcome.
God is a mighty warrior. He will not forsake you. With His power, you will not fail.
Getting out of God’s way requires trust.
Surrender is trust. Trust in Him now.
He’s more powerful than your fear. More powerful than your doubt.
Open your heart to His presence within you. Relinquish all you are in trust.
Allow His Spirit to cover you. Breathe in His mercy and grace. Let it flow through you until everything you are reflects everything He is.
Getting out of God’s way requires vigilance.
Be vigilant in purpose. God does not delight in your suffering; He delights in your obedience.
Remain close to Him. When you feel doubt creeping in, immediately turn to Him. He will see you through the storm.
In the shelter of His word, you’ll find peace. More than that, you’ll find the will to persevere in your journey.
His Spirit is born of love. Given to guide and protect you. His way is the only way out of the darkness.
Allow Him to guide each step of your journey. He leads with purpose and intent. His goal has always been, will always be, your salvation.
The world will lead you astray. God never will.
Getting out of God’s way requires faith.
Faith is trust in things you cannot see and hope in things to come. Cling to faith.
Arm yourself with it. Rely on it. Hold fast to His promises.
Our God is faithful. You may not always understand the path He sets before you. You don’t need to.
That’s what surrender is. It’s letting go in faith. In surrender, you’ll find rest for your soul, food for your spirit, and untold strength for the journey.
Move forward in faith.
Getting out of God’s way is the only way.
Relinquish everything you are. That means every burden, every failure, every sin.
His shoulders are strong enough to bear your weight. The sacrifice of His Son has already borne your shame. The cross is the most sacred sign of His undying love for you.
While you were still a sinner, Christ died for you, for all of us. The gift of salvation is available to all who believe.
Do you believe?
Do you want to be free?
The door is open.
The question remains. Will you walk through it?
HOLY SPIRIT PUSH ME
Holy Spirit, push me,
into the arms of the Father,
and the salvation of the Son.
Holy Spirit, arm me
with the strength of the Father,
until the battle is won.
Holy Spirit, guide me,
into the light of lasting Truth,
so that His Word compels,
all I think, and say, and do.
Holy Spirit, transform me,
open my heart and soul,
to His presence within me,
until He’s my only goal.
Holy Spirit, cover me,
with His mercy and His grace,
until His blessed assurance,
informs each step I take.
Holy Spirit, walk with me,
through each and every step,
until His word is written and,
proclaimed with every breath.
Holy Spirit, free me,
from the bondage of my sin,
until everything I am,
reflects everything He IS.
AMEN.
JN Fenwick (© 2025) | All rights reserved.
JN Fenwick (©2025) | mothjournal14 | All rights reserved. | I DO NOT WALK THIS RECOVERY JOURNEY ALONE.
I’m JN Fenwick.
Wife, mom, but more importantly, a recovering alcoholic with a grateful heart. For years, I struggled, not just with alcohol, but with an eating disorder and the burdens of guilt and shame. On March 22, 2018, I surrendered my life to Christ. I was 51. God did not forsake me. He welcomed me, as undeserving as I am. He did not see my brokenness. Instead, He saw my potential. My Recovery Journey is one of Faith. From the ashes of my failures, God built a fire in me. A fire that guides each step I take. My journey is yours. My healing can be yours, too. God is a mighty warrior. You can take comfort in the promise that the Lord will fight for you and grant you peace. | Exodus 14:14.
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