Only God can give power to change

Pastor Pat Duffin

Having observed many different recovery and counselling models, and with nearly 29 years of sobriety, I have yet to see anything more simple, or practical, than the 12 steps of recovery that was first used by Alcoholics Anonymous and is now adopted by a whole cadre of other recovery type groups. The steps really do work, which is why they have become so widely used. First, the 12 steps bring us to realize and admit that we are powerless in our selves to make the transformational changes required in order to gain liberty from whatever life-controlling patterns are harming us and those we love. For many, this is a tough pill to swallow. We don’t like to think of ourselves as weak and helpless. We like to think of ourselves as captains of our own ship and masters of our own soul. Nor do we like to think of ourselves as anything less than honourable and innately good. Yet, if this were true, why isn’t our world a much better place to live? While we speak of man’s ‘IN-humanity’ toward man, a much more honest way of describing our behaviour towards our fellow human beings would be to call it man’s ‘humanity’ to man. Just consider the ubiquitous and relentless suffering and turmoil in the world because of the inherent selfishness of our species. That’s the way it has been for thousands of years and nothing has changed. It’s our natural way, and we’re still no better today than we were back then. Some like to think of education or motivational thinking as transformational tools. While they probably do offer some value, here’s the rub. Education and wishful thinking have never sobered up an alcoholic or cleaned up a drug addict. If that were so, many well-educated and otherwise highly functioning people would never have succumbed to the power of drink or drugs. And those ensnared in its deadly grip could easily be “counseled” out of their devastating predicaments. Rational and cognitive therapy would enlighten the afflicted to simply put aside their addiction or other controlling behaviours and adopt more beneficial choices. Counseling has been notoriously ineffective in helping the vast majority make substantial change. No, the barrier to recovery is a lack of power to achieve transformational change. Even as the afflicted is powerless to make the desperately desired changes, so is the would-be rescuer powerless to help them. As the First Step of Recovery states, “We admitted we were powerless over (name the problem) and that our lives had become unmanageable.” Paradoxically, the beginning of obtaining power to change is to recognize that the power does not come from within. The Second Step of Recovery states, “We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” We can no more change our inner nature, than a leopard can change its spots. It is our inner nature that is the ‘heart’ of the entire issue. Let’s take the alcoholic for a simple illustration. Removing the alcohol does not remove the ‘ic’ from the alcohol-ic. This “ickyness” is what causes the phenomenon known as the “dry drunk.” While they may not be drinking, they are still just as miserable and disagreeable as before, or maybe even worse. They are still no fun to be around and the reason is because there has been no change of the heart. There has been no transformation of the inner self. Something more is needed. The Apostle Paul addressed this issue of powerlessness in his Letter to the Romans. Talking about the war within Paul writes “...This has become my way of life: When I want to do what is right, I always do what is wrong. My mind and heart agree with the Law of God. But there is a different law at work deep inside of me that fights with my mind. This law of sin holds me in its power because sin is still in me. There is no happiness in me! Who can set me free from my sinful old self?” (Romans 7:21-24 NLV) Did you notice how the mind was unfruitful in bringing about the desired changes? Neither rational thinking nor will-power were up to the task. The good news is that there exists a benevolent power outside ourselves Who is more than willing to help us change. Page 71 of the First Edition of the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous says (as do the later editions) “But there is One who has all power-That One is God. May you find Him now!” Even more significant, page 13 of the multilith copy of the Big Book which was circulated before publication said: “Each individual, in the personal stories, describes in his own language, and from his own point of view the way he found or rediscovered God.” The big ‘Big Book’ - the Bible - teaches us that only God has the power to transform us from the old into “new creatures.” He does this by supernaturally changing hearts so that we can ‘be’ and ‘do’ all that we should. “That which is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Mark 10:27). Paul, goes on to conclude, “I thank God I can be free through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). To the Corinthians Paul explained that freedom from the bondage of sin’s power comes through the power of Jesus Christ, “For if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun. All this comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NLV) Real power to change only comes from God through Jesus Christ. That’s why He is called Saviour. May you find Him now!