Can You Overcome Addiction Through God?

Overcoming addiction through God sounds like a feat too big, even for our Higher Power. Yet, the good news is that the Bible shows us that God is powerful and can help us overcome addiction. The Holy Spirit weaves its way through daily life, and God’s love is unconditional.

During the first days of addiction recovery, a support group is necessary to help the addict through withdrawal symptoms. Some addicts suffer from withdrawal symptoms that will need medical intervention. Delirium tremens, an alcohol withdrawal-associated medical emergency, is one example. Medscape defines delirium tremens as critical care. Symptoms include Agitation, global confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, fever, hypertension, diaphoresis, autonomic hyperactivity (tachycardia and hypertension), and profound global confusion (a hallmark of DTs).

Once an addict is past the withdrawal stage, the work begins.

Jesus Christ and Substance Abuse

Finding faith is central to the recovery process.  We are not equipped to overcome the power of addiction with our own strength. God is there for us and promises to see every struggling addict through to a new way of life.

The Bible speaks of a new life in the New Testament. Jesus tells us God has grace for us. Addicts can use this grace during their recovery process. Grace, or eternal life, is a gift from God that we do not need to earn. Remembering this type of love can aid in the recovery process.

Drug addiction can lead to behavior that is out of the norm. All drug addicts and alcoholics have done things they are not proud of. Recovering is owning up to our behavior and deciding to live differently, eliminating our old habits. With God’s help, it is possible.

The Holdfast Recovery blog tells us the Bible can provide guidance, reassurance, and insight during the recovery process. They point us to the following scriptures:

John 2:16
“For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life— comes not from the Father but from the world.”

The Bible extensively addresses the concept of temptation, with notable examples found in the accounts of Job and Joseph. By endowing mankind with free will, God has enabled individuals to exercise their agency and make informed choices. The world presents numerous trials and potential stumbling blocks, including the pitfalls of substance abuse. Opting for the path of righteousness, rather than succumbing to temptation, is crucial for leading a content and purposeful existence.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

​The world is replete with malice, natural disasters, illness, and adversity. John articulates the role of faith in God as a means to surmount these challenges, emphasizing the significance of comprehending Jesus's travails in disseminating his message. While contending with pain and stress poses inherent difficulties, the Bible, bolstered by support groups and therapy, furnishes individuals with the tools to cultivate healthy coping skills.
James 5:15-16

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

What is a Christian Counselor?

According to HC.com, “Christian counseling integrates faith into the therapy process to promote improved mental health from a biblically-informed perspective. Christian counselors aim to address emotional suffering and dysfunction by providing compassionate support to those seeking help.”

Christian counseling focuses on the whole person through the lens of Christianity. They encompass mental, emotional, behavioral, relational, and spiritual aspects of well-being.

You might find a Christian counselor for addiction at a rehabilitation center. It does not necessarily have to be a Christian rehab. The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are based on faith.

The Twelve Steps in the Bible

The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are found in Bible verses, and there are many variations of them.

Twelve Steps & Its Corresponding Bible Verse

The word of God is a powerful tool for breaking the chains of addiction. Faith Home Recovery cultivated this list by comparing the twelve steps to Bible verses.

  1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives had become unmanageable.
    (Romans 7:18 “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”)
  2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 
    (Philippians 2:13 “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”)
  3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. 
    (Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.”)
  4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 
    (Lamentations 3:40 “let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”)
  5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs. 
    (James 5:16a “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”)
  6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 
    (James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”)
  7. Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.
    (1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”)
  8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
    (Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”)
  9. Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 
    (Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”)
  10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
    (1 Corinthians 10:12 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”)
  11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out. 
    (Colossians 3:16a “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.”)
  12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and practice these principles in all our affairs. 
    (Galatians 6:1 ‘Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”)

​What is Christian rehabilitation?

Christian rehabilitation is similar to other drug rehabilitation, except it incorporates a faith-based rehab approach to recovery. Just like we see the twelve steps from the Bible, Christian rehabilitation uses prayer, Bible study, and Twelve-step meetings to create a safe place for recovery. Examples of a faith-based treatment experience include:

  • Bible study
  • Journaling
  • Group therapy
  • Twelve-step meetings
  • Meditation
  • Yoga classes
  • Celebrate Recovery meetings
  • Opportunities for family members to attend church

Christian rehab programs also can include treatment for mental health disorders. These faith-based approaches address substance use and consider the whole person, not just the addiction.

Christian Community

For those looking to overcome addiction through God, getting sober is the first step of the healing process. For individuals looking to quit drug abuse and those who already practice faith, God’s word does help to give some comfort. I believe God loves us even during the depths of our addiction. He probably loves us most during these desperate moments.

Speaking to someone in the Christian community like a Christian counselor is a good first step. Long-term sobriety is attained with having a strong community of people that support you every day.

Yes, You Can Overcome Addiction Through God

In summary, God and faith are central to many recovery programs. Professional help is needed during the first days of sobriety. Once withdrawals are over, finding a treatment center and outpatient programs are key. If you are interested in getting sober, we urge you to call your local church pastor, call Alcoholics Anonymous, or call a local treatment facility.

About the author
Shannon M
Shannon M's extensive experience in addiction recovery spans several decades. Her journey started at a young age when she attended treatment aftercare sessions for a family member and joined Alateen meetings, a support group for young people affected by a loved one's addiction. In 1994, Shannon personally experienced the challenges of addiction and took the courageous step of joining Alcoholics Anonymous. This experience gave her a unique perspective on the addiction recovery process, which would prove invaluable in her future work. Shannon's passion for helping others navigate the complexities of addiction led her to pursue a degree in English with a minor in Substance Abuse Studies from Texas Tech University. She completed her degree in 1996, equipping her with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide compassionate and effective support to those struggling with addiction. Shannon M both writes for Sober Speak and edits other writer's work that wish to remain anonymous.