Relapse presents a decision provoking death

Relapse presents a decision to die and not live. With relapse, gone are the sure-fire dreams of success. Gone is the newfound cohesion between family and friends. Gone is the financial security and rewards of recovery. Gone is the journey to get better. Relapse presents an illusion of one more trip on the drink and drug carousel. Relapse instead delivers instant guilt and shame. Relapse presents death as the decision to use could very well be the very last decision one ever makes. Recovery brings forth light. Relapse delivers one back to darkness. Gone are the journeys in bright light. Gone are the future petitions for excellence. Relapse presents fumbling, dark failures. Relapse is an exit on the stage called life. Relapse is a petition for a closing. Relapse is a decision to quit, end, and even die. Listen as Trent explains his say on what relapse truly offers and in fact delivers upon/

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Recovery is a process of decision podcast. This podcast is a weekly revealing of the recovery journey of peer support specialist Trent Thomas. Join him on his internal research driven dive into what to and what not to do in sustaining recovery. His weekly episodes demonstrate that you are not alone and what we can't do alone, we can do together. This Welcome to Recovery is a Process of Decisions Podcast. Welcome to Recovery is a Process of Decisions Podcast. This is Trent Thomas, your Recovery Peer Support Specialist. Tonight's episode is entitled, God's immense capacity for forgiveness. Recovery is dependent upon forgiveness. We ask to be forgiven and thus we must forgive others, including and very importantly, ourselves. In forgiving ourselves, we must first admit all the wrong decisions we made and then understand all the harm as well as whom we harmed as a result of those bad decisions. For me, I had to first separate the emotional attachment I fostered to the damage I caused to individuals. I was not actually intent on harming a person, but rather enacting a bad decision. All bad decisions harbor consequences. Part of these consequences is the effect the decisions have on people. In one instance, I stole from a family member a terrible bad decision. The consequence including damaging the trust that family member had in me. It also caused an emotional stress scar because that taking from a family member hurt emotionally. When we act against a person we know and who has feelings for us, particularly trust, it causes a painful breaking of that trust bond. That breakage has an emotional sting and the breaking of that string results in a pain reaction. This painful cutting of this emotional string requires healing and will leave a scar Scars are proof of recovery. Damage was done which leaves a scar of damage. The causing of this scar requires forgiveness for its causation. Forgiveness may or may not be given. It is entirely upon the recipient of the injury if they are willing to to forgive. Forgiveness permits the recipient to move beyond the emotional damage caused and permits healing and frees the recipient's mind from being stuck in that instance. Only by forgiving the injurer can one free the mind from being trapped in the time space when the injury occurred. Only then can the mind be free for additional or new matters to occupy that space. Forgiveness equals freedom. Freedom to live. Freedom to move on. We must also ask for forgiveness from God, which is always forthcoming. As our spiritual father, he is always willing to forgive. For it is impossible for God to hold a grudge or be slighted by our actions. God knows all. God knows the ending from the beginning. God knows all the consequences before we even make the decision. God cannot ignore sin. Sin is a sin. Sin is a decision contrary to the rules or laws of God. Sin is a decision opposite to God's will. This cannot be ignored and consequences will be invoked. Acting contrary to God's laws will always lead to misery. Most often we must taste this product and see that it is bitter. The bitterness presents a result that should not be repeated. However, consequences in and of itself is not enough. Most often As the sin is repeated, the consequences get more and more severe. The eventuality is set as the ultimate recourse for sinful behavior is that it will conclude with the sinner not being permitted to make any decisions at all. This means death. Premature death is a solution to ignoring the laws of God. Forgiveness for reversing one's bad decisions carousel is met with the open arms of God's email. God knows what we know not, including our very heart. God celebrates the returning of a wayward person to his fold of lawful followers. God rejoices when one decides to follow him. God's laws and will leads to joy and success. God promises serenity to his followers. This does not mean easy, because life is hills and valleys, but it is through faith that he warrants everything is already alright. Trust in God and he will make a way from no way. God's dimension for forgiveness is best highlighted with the story of the prodigal son. In that story we read of how a son squandered his inheritance and ended up working in a hog pen serving slop to hogs. This son was so hungry he ate the slop that was meant for the hogs. Once he had reached his bottom he returned home. As he approached his father his father ran to his son and embraced him. As he did, his son began asking for forgiveness. His father was so enthralled with happiness his son had returned, he never even heard the words of his son. The father had already forgiven his son. He forgave his son even before he had left. This exemplifies the forgiveness capacity of God. Forgiveness from God is always forthcoming. We must match this same forgiveness To forgive ourselves demonstrates the faith we have in God and his ability to set events as everything is already alright. Our faith presents itself as it relates to God's ability to heal and initiate recovery. Recovery begins with forgiveness, forgiveness from God and forgiveness of oneself. Forgiveness is mandated and necessary for recovery. to begin and be sustained. This is Trent Thomas, your recovery peer support specialist. Thank you and have a blessed day.