What the Barna Numbers Don’t Tell Us About Porn, Isolation, and Desire In my previous post, I shared recent research from Barna showing just how widespread pornography use has become—both in our culture and inside the church. The numbers are sobering. But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. What the data doesn’t fully explainContinue reading “Sexual Energy Wasn’t Eliminated – It Was Diverted:”
Tag Archives: sobriety
Learning to Trust Again
Trusting Myself, Others, and God Learning to trust again is rarely simple. If trust feels slow, confusing, or even unsafe for you, that doesn’t mean you’re failing at recovery. More often, it means trust was broken somewhere along the way. Most of us were not taught how to build trust. We were taught how toContinue reading “Learning to Trust Again”
Healthy Boundaries Without Guilt
For many people in recovery, the word boundaries sounds good in theory—but feels uncomfortable in practice. We know boundaries are important, yet the moment we try to set one, guilt rushes in. We worry about hurting someone, disappointing them, or being seen as selfish. So instead of setting boundaries, we overextend, stay silent, or say yes whenContinue reading “Healthy Boundaries Without Guilt”
Politically Right or Sober
Over the past several years, I’ve noticed a pattern with some of my clients in recovery. It cuts across political parties, belief systems, and personal backgrounds. When people become deeply immersed in politics—especially through social media—something often begins to shift. Emotional regulation weakens. Anxiety increases. Anger becomes more accessible. And for some, sobriety quietly startsContinue reading “Politically Right or Sober”
Redefining Toughness in Recovery
In my family, toughness had a very specific meaning. It meant not taking anything off anybody. It meant not showing emotion. It meant never admitting weakness or failure. You stood your ground, handled your business, and kept moving. And in many ways, that kind of toughness helped me survive. It taught me how to endure, how to pushContinue reading “Redefining Toughness in Recovery”
Forgiving Yourself Without Excusing the Past
For a lot of people in recovery, the phrase “self-forgiveness” can feel confusing or even uncomfortable. Many of us hear that term and immediately think, “I don’t deserve that,” or “If I forgive myself, am I just letting myself off the hook?” But when you look a little deeper, most people who say they can’t forgive themselves aren’t really wrestling withContinue reading “Forgiving Yourself Without Excusing the Past”
Recovery on Christmas Eve: You’re Allowed to Be Honest Tonight
Christmas Eve carries a lot of weight. For some people, it’s candlelight, family traditions, and a sense of peace. For others, it’s loneliness, regret, and the quiet awareness of who isn’t here. Recovery doesn’t magically remove that weight. In many ways, it makes us more aware of it. One of the unspoken expectations of ChristmasContinue reading “Recovery on Christmas Eve: You’re Allowed to Be Honest Tonight”
Anger vs Rage
Anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions we carry. Many of us grew up in homes where anger was either explosive or forbidden, so we learned to fear it, ignore it, or shut it down. But anger itself isn’t the problem. In fact, anger is one of the most important signals in the emotionalContinue reading “Anger vs Rage”
Suffering Has a Place at the Table
Suffering Has a Place at the Table: Recovering an Old Christian Practice for the Holiday Season The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas carry a strange tension. We’re surrounded by images of joy, abundance, and celebration — full tables, warm lights, smiling families, and the promise of peace on earth. But for many people, this seasonContinue reading “Suffering Has a Place at the Table”
The Role of Grief in Recovery
When most people think about recovery—whether from addiction, trauma, betrayal, or unhealthy patterns—they imagine hope, rebuilding, new habits, and a better future. All of that is true. But there is a part of recovery that often surprises people: you cannot heal without grief. Grief is not just about losing a loved one. It’s about acknowledging anyContinue reading “The Role of Grief in Recovery”