Addiction is a disease that affects the brain and requires medical and psychological treatment. But many people need a holistic approach to addiction recovery that also addresses spiritual problems. The concept of spiritual healing in recovery is not just widespread, it's foundational to recovery. For decades it has been practically applied through the 12-step program, where steps like admitting powerlessness, making amends, and seeking spiritual awakening were integral.
But faith-based recovery at Wings of Life applies the gospel to the spiritual needs of people who want to overcome a substance use disorder–and it makes a big difference. What is Faith-Based Recovery? Christian faith-based recovery refers to addiction treatment programs that incorporate spiritual healing into the recovery process. In many ways, spiritual healing is a key element to addiction recovery. In fact, addiction treatment started with the acknowledgement that alcoholism and substance use disorders require spiritual healing to be successful. Alcoholics Anonymous are centered around admitting that addiction is out of your control and that you need to give control to a “higher power.” In Christian faith-based addiction treatment, that higher power is recognized more specifically: Jesus. In Romans 7, Paul writes about sin saying, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Many people in active addiction experience the same problem. Deep down they want to stop the destructive compulsions that are hurting their life and their loved ones, but they find themselves returning to it. What’s Paul’s solution? A few verses later he says, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Paul sees that he cannot control his actions through sheer strength of will, so he instead relies on the highest power. Why is Christian Faith-Based Recovery Unique? Spiritual healing is an essential part of addiction recovery, and the message of the gospel is medicine everyone needs–especially people who have experienced active addiction. People with substance use problems often come to treatment with past traumas, hurt feelings, disappointments, and tremendous guilt. Addiction is a disease that affects the brain and causes you to prioritize drugs or alcohol over everything else you care about. It’s very common to feel like you’ve damaged your relationships and done terrible things. But the gospel is all about redemption–even if you feel like you don’t deserve it. A great example of the redemptive power of the gospel is when Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well. Through the story, it’s revealed that she’s made some past mistakes. She’s been unfaithful in her relationships–jumping from one to another. She’s unsatisfied with life and it's caused her to make mistakes. Likewise, alcoholism and addiction may be caused by a deep spiritual thirst for wholeness. Drugs and alcohol offer that satisfaction, but it’s temporary, and fades quickly, causing you to return again and again. In John 4, Jesus offers her something that he calls a gift of God saying, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” He sees that she is a sinner, and he offers her what she truly needs: spiritual healing that lasts. He offers the same thing to us. How Faith-Based Recovery Works at Wings of Life Wings of Life offers a recovery program grounded in biblical principles designed to facilitate lasting recovery from addiction and other harmful behaviors. This structured approach aims to foster genuine and transformative change through community, study, worship, and work.
Additional support includes pastoral counseling, mentoring, and access to financial, educational, and vocational training through various partnerships. Contact us to learn more about Wings of Life recovery and begin your journey to holistic healing today. |