Episode 12: Rooted & Recovered - You’re Not Just Recovered—You’re Called

What if your healing wasn’t the end, but the beginning of someone else’s?

In this powerful closing episode of Rooted & Recovered, Dan and Justin unpack Step Twelve of the 12-Step journey:
“Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”

This isn’t a graduation.
 It’s a commissioning.
You’re not just recovered—you’re called.

Step Twelve isn’t about polishing your past. It’s about putting it to work. Because the truth is: someone out there is still drowning in the very thing you were delivered from. And what God did in you wasn’t meant to sit in silence.
It was meant to reach back and rescue.

Key Highlights:

• Why your scars are proof, not disqualifications
• How Step 12 turns your past into a platform
• Why recovery isn’t a finish line—it’s a launching pad
• What it means to become the guide you always needed
• Why you don’t need perfection to be powerful—just obedience
• How to carry your message with humility, not hesitation

Scriptures Covered:
James 1:22 • Mark 5:1–20 • 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 • Matthew 28:19–20 • Psalm 118:24 • John 21:15–17

Final Truth:
You didn’t just survive—you’ve been sent.
Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re proof.
Not because you know everything, but because you know grace works.
You are the healing space someone else is praying for.

You are living proof that God still saves, still redeems, still rebuilds.
So don’t shrink back. Don’t go quiet. Don’t play small.

You’re not just rooted and recovered.
 You’ve been entrusted.
 Now carry it.

Tag someone who’s finished the steps—or just beginning—and remind them:
 This is where the mission begins.

Stay rooted. Stay recovered. And let’s get to work.

Transcript

0:00

This world doesn't hand out healing. It offers quick fixes, cheap highes and empty promises, but real recovery. It takes roots. Roots that dig deep into truth, into identity, into the unshakeable grace of God. We're not here to sugarcoat the struggle. We've lived it. Addiction, shame, relapse, regret, but we've also seen resurrection. We've seen what happened. Happens when broken people get anchored in something real rooted and recovered is more than a podcast. It's a battleground for the soul. A place where scars tell stories, where scripture speaks louder than shame, where freedom isn't just a word. It's a war we win daily. So if you're tired of surface level answers, if you want truth that convicts, hope that heals, and conversations that cut through the noise, you're in the right place. Welcome to Rooted and Recovered.

Justin: 1:08

Good day family man, and what a good day it is. By the grace of God. Go I, I woke up this morning with breath in my lungs and. Man, a song on my heart that I've never had before, right? Today's a due day. Bible says, this is the day that the Lord is made. I'm gonna rejoice and be glad in it. And one of the reasons I'm glad is because I am here with my brother in Christ. Dan Pyles as always, how are you doing today?

Dan: 1:35

Blessed and highly favored brother. Uh, today is a bittersweet day. Um, it just seems like a couple weeks ago, man, we just started this and. Brother, we are going to be discussing step 12 today.

Justin: 1:52

Yes, we are. And you know, I, I talked about having breath in my lungs, and I just wanna share this with everybody out there. If you're alive and breathing, there is a reason.

Dan: 2:03

Mm-hmm.

Justin: 2:04

And that's what Step 12 is about, because you're not just recovered, you're called. I wanna say that again. You are not just recovered, you're called. You are not just gonna be healed. You get to now go be used to do the healing. Step 12 tells us having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Dan. I can't think of a better example of what the gospel message calls us to. Amen. If you look at recovery and salvation, they're so close and they go such hand in hand, you can't help but understand that recovery is a fruit of salvation. Look, you didn't come through all that just. To sit quiet. There are a lot of people who are dying in silence, and that's why it's up to us to recover out loud. Right. Recovery is never meant to be the finish line. If you have finished these steps, great. Good. I'm happy I'm clapping. But what this is meant to be is a launching pad. Mm-hmm. You didn't just walk through the fire to sit in the ashes and say, well, that's over. Who No beauty comes from ashes. Amen. Joy comes in the morning and it is that beauty and joy we are called to share. Step 12 reminds us, you're not just healed, you're commissioned. This is not about perfection. You don't need a theology degree, right? I you don't. We've said, I don't, you don't need to know the eman systematic. Justification of this schematic. Yeah. Sounds like something the Beastie Boys are getting ready to start blaring into. Right? But you don't need that. And let me tell you something, you don't need a spotless life to carry this message either.

Dan: 4:11

Nah, family. You, you gotta think about this man, and I wanna congratulate you for being on this journey with us. If you have started from the beginning to now, congratulations, man. We are so proud of you. We are honored to walk this journey with you. But come on, man, let's be real for a moment. You didn't claw your way out of addiction and shame and, and spiritual death just to sit in silence. You didn't survive that overdose. You didn't survive that broken relationship or, or those nights of, of, of just sobbing on the floor or, or those mornings where you just had to make yourself get outta bed and you didn't even wanna wake up just to play it safe. Now, family, you made it. Through for a reason. You see, God didn't bring you out just so you could blend in. He brought you out so you could speak out, so you could shine a light into someone else's dark life, so you could walk into the rooms that you once had to crawl through, and now you've got the, the ability and the power through the Holy Spirit to help lift others out on their feet. This step guys. It isn't for the polished. Hmm? It's for the marked. Marked by grace, marked by fire, marked by the scars that are that now tell the truth of a savior, a loving savior who restored everything that hell tried to run. Guys, you're not called as Justin said, to be perfect. You're called to be real, to testify, to give what was given, to pass on the kind of hope that you wished someone handed you when you were barely hanging on. And here's the truth, family, if you keep that story bottled up, if you sit down on the gift that God gave you, someone else will stay stuck. If your story, your powerful story, stay silent. Someone else is gonna stay stuck. So no, you didn't come through all this just to coast in life. You came through it to carry something hope, healing truth, and the kind of power that only comes through pain. Justin, redeemed by grace,

Justin: 6:46

you carry something real. I love what Dan said. You're not called to perfection. You're called to authenticity. Your scars show who Christ is and what he can do through a life that is surrendered to him. You didn't come this far just to sit in silence and watch your brothers and sisters die. There's a Bible verse where it talks about your hand. Right. The hand reaches back into the fire. Well, in order for that hand to reach back, it has to be tempered. It has to have gone through the fire itself. And that's what this step is about. It's about saying My hand has gone through fire, my life has been tempered, but I'm gonna let God who has done the healing, use me to be a part of his healing for somebody else. We're called to live out what God has given us. Look, when Jesus, he says, come to me all you who are weary. And you hear me say this verse a lot, and it's because I know the other side of tired. But he says, come to me all you who are weary. Give me your heavy ladens and your burdens and lay it all on me. I'm gentle. I'm meek. Be yoked with me. And at the end of that, he says, my burden is light. My yoke is easy. Do you know what that is? That light burden, it's that message, mm-hmm. Of salvation that we are called to carry to the world that Jesus Christ has came. There is not only forgiveness of our sins, but there is a healing that can be found in him. That's what this is about. Look, James 1:22 says, do not merely listen to the word and deceive yourselves. Do what it says. There you go. Right. Too many of us, we've gotten this far and we think, okay, I'm good. Me and mine's just fine. No. We're called to share the gospel. We're called to share our testimony in the Old Testament. What the, it was called the Ark of the testimony. The Ark of the Covenant. That's what it was. That's what they carried with him. It was the Tabernacle of God. What they do is they'd have posts through it, men would carry it. Those who had been called by God would carry it. Well, what that was made of was the gold that they had got from Egypt. And look your testimony that that gold that was taken from Egypt was melted down, purified, made right, and put on the arc of the testimony. And guess what? That's what your testimony is, and that's what you're called to carry. That arc of the covenant, a testimony of God, and it's made from the things in your life that he is purified, refined, and made right. We're called to carry. This recovery doesn't end with knowing the truth. It's about living the truth, showing the truth, and sharing the

Dan: 9:45

truth. Very good. Yeah, guys. 12 step. It's not a wrap party. It's not a All right, we'll, uh, we'll catch you on the next one. Woo. Guys, it's not, it's not the finish line, guys. Step 12 is the starting line of your assignment.

Justin: 9:59

That's right.

Dan: 10:00

You didn't, you didn't recover you, you, you didn't just recover for yourself. You were commissioned to carry this message into someone else's rock bottom. I love what James says. Don't merely listen to the word, so deceive yourself. Do what it says, guys, this isn't about head knowledge. It's about holy obedience. That means what God did in your life. It demands a response, not a perfect one, not a polished one, but a real one. your story isn't just a moment in your past. It's a weapon in your hand. A weapon against shame, a weapon against despair, a weapon against every lie that says people don't change and grace doesn't work. Here's the thing, you don't need a stage. You don't need a mic, you don't need a title. You just need the courage to show up with your scar showing to sit across and. Face. Someone who thinks that they're too far gone and say, look at me. I've been there, I've been where you are, and I know the way out family. You carry a message, not just of, of recovery, but of redemption, not just of sobriety, family, but of transformation. And make no mistake, this message is, is not about perfection. It's about. Power. The power of what happens when a surrendered life gets set on Fire By Grace family, you don't graduate from this, you grow into this. Hmm. Every single day family. Step 12 isn't the end of your recovery. It's the beginning of your ministry.

Justin: 11:51

2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 says, all praise to God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful father and the source of all comfort. Listen, he comforts us in all our troubles. Not so that we can sit in silence, but so that we can comfort others when they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. Look what God did in you wasn't just for your comfort. It wasn't just a blanket that you could, I'm not saying don't wrap yourself in that comfort. I'm not saying forget about it and don't pray. Be grateful. Praise him for it daily, but it wasn't just for your comfort, it was for your calling. Look, your story, like Dan said, is a weapon that has been forged in fire, that fights against the darkness. Your scars are a signpost that points to grace, the grace of God that has set you free. Amen. The grace of God that has redeemed you and that shows. Even a wretched sinner like you could be saved so that some other person can know that God is exactly who he says he is, and he will do exactly what he says he does. Every failure that has been redeemed becomes fuel for somebody else's freedom. Listen, it becomes fuel for somebody else's freedom when you come to Christ. It's not about sitting in a pew on Sunday morning and just raising your hands in worship saying, thank you, God for all you did for me. The Pharisee did that. He had the keys to heaven and he locked himself out. Why? Because he wasn't sharing what he was given. Look. This is where you become the guide. You always need it. Mm. Think back on your life and think, I don't know about you, Dan. I don't know about you, listener, but there are times in my life when I sit there and say, man, I wish somebody would've helped me. I wish somebody would've had a word for me in due season. Well, that's what this is. This is when we, we become the person that shows up. Speaks hope not just for ourselves, but for others. Step 12 is about stepping into that role. Not out of pride, but out of purpose.

Dan: 14:27

Amen, that's where this all comes full circle. You know, think back family to the, the darkest chapter of your story. Think back to that time where you hit your rock bottom and you didn't think you was gonna make it out. You know, those nights you were drowning in guilt and shame and just confusion and withdraw. You know, the season where you didn't need a sermon, Justin, you just needed someone at that moment just to be real with you. Yep. Not someone who threw bible verses at you and, and walked away. Not someone who, who flinched and blocked your number when you started sharing the ugly parts of your life. You needed someone who looked you in the eye and said, I've been there. I'm not afraid of your mess. I'm not leaving Listener, you are that someone that's the turning point of step 12. You're not just a recipient of grace anymore. Now you become a carrier of it. You're no longer just trying to stay alive. you're now speaking life into others guys, and this is what seals the transformation. Not that you've been rescued, but now that you're reaching back, as Justin said a few moments ago, not that you're perfect, but that you're present for someone who's in the pit that you once lived. It's not about having the right words. it's about having the right posture, a posture of humility, honesty, hope, and hear this clearly family. This isn't a burden, it's a blessing because something powerful happens when you give what you never got. You become a healing space for someone else's breakthrough, and that's when grace moves from being your safety net to becoming your calling. You're not just a product of Grace family, you're now a steward of it. And when you live like that, your life becomes someone else's turning point.

Justin: 16:48

This is where you move from surviving to serving. Mm. Right. If you ever go to the grave sites, there's a number on each side and in between there's a little dash. This asks the question, what are you going to do with that dash, because God calls us to serve. This is where you stop just receiving and start reproducing. Yep. This is where disciples are grown. This is you stepping in to discipleship. Look, when you guide others, it reinforces the truth in your own life. You can't keep it unless you give it away. That's one of those recovery things that's said all over. Right? And it's true because Nothing matures your healing, like helping someone else walk into theirs. Hmm. That's where it's grown. It helps remind you of who God is in your life, and it shows others that, hey, you're meant for more. I love that song. I was meant for more. I wasn't made to just tend to the grave. My job isn't just to sit there and make sure there's flowers where that dead old man lies. My job is to go out and help spread seed to others grave sites. To help show others, Hey, there is a God who loves you, who died for you, and is there to help you carry these burdens and can and will if you let him. But it's about us surrendering again, right? It's that dirty word we like to say. This is us surrendering. When Jesus left this world, he didn't say, now sit around and wait. He said, go. Go and make disciples of all nations. This is us going with that commission on our heart. To make disciples,

Dan: 18:36

and

Justin: 18:36

that's the thing.

Dan: 18:37

Family. You got one simple word. Go, Don't sit on the sidelines. don't keep what you have been set free from. people don't heal and recover in silence. They recover in community. They recover when others of like-minded people come together and they can see that someone's been there and done that. that's why peer recovery support is so powerful because it's individuals who's walked that talked that, been there, done that, and are able to walk alongside that, that individual. Justin, our scripture focus for today is in Mark chapter five. Uh, verses one through 20. And I'm not gonna read it all today for time constraints. I encourage you to go back and, and read this. But guys, this is one of, this is probably one of the rawest most jaw dropping encounters in the entire Bible because you gotta look at the context of this. This man was completely overtaken by demons. This guy was living in a a graveyard, isolated from everyone. The Bible says that he was cutting himself. He, he was howling and torment, and this poor individual, he wasn't just broken guys, he was bound, possessed, lost in every possible way, man. But then Jesus shows up with a word.

Justin: 20:13

Mm-hmm.

Dan: 20:15

Jesus shows up with a word, and the Bible says that he casts out legions of demons with a word. Jesus rewrites this man's entire story and the town shows up and, and that they don't know what to do with, you know, with what they're seeing because they're used to seeing the old man. Because the man who used to terrorize the streets is now the Bible sitting says, sitting, calmly, clothed, and in his right mind. Guys, this is what Grace does. It doesn't just make you better. It makes you new. Not improved, not medicated, but transformed. Now, here's where it gets deep for us. Because this man begs Jesus to let him come with him. And honestly, if you think about it, Justin, who could blame him?

Justin: 21:17

Hmm.

Dan: 21:17

After all that this guy had been through, it makes sense. You know, let me be close to the one who healed me. This. This makes sense. I would've been asking the same thing. But Jesus says something that should shake every one of us awake. He says, no, go home and tell them how much the Lord has done for you. He didn't send this man to Bible college, Justin. He, he didn't wait for him to, to get to clean up every habit and, and to get everything all figured out and to, and to sit down for seven years under somebody and learn the Bible and, and learn this, and learn that. He sent him with a testimony and a mission. Why? Because a redeemed life is the message family. Mm-hmm. Your scars preach louder than strategies ever will, because when people see you healed, they'll start to believe that they can be healed to guys, that's what Step 12 is all about. You don't need a pulpit. Family, you are the pulpit. You don't need permission. Family Justin just said it a few moments ago. Matthew 28 19 commissions us. You are already commissioned. You've been through the storm, you've stood in the graveyard, and now you carry the resurrection power. Everywhere you go, family, the world doesn't need a better polished version of you. It needs the healed you. It needs the honest you. It needs the hope filled you. So go go back to the places you used to avoid. Go love the people you used to run with. Go shine the light where you once lived in darkness because you're not just, it's not just the past anymore family. That's not your past. It's now your platform. And the greatest ministry you'll ever have in the life you lived is the one that is shown Justin and redeemed. By Grace,

Justin: 23:36

Jesus didn't just save him. He sent him. He didn't just save you, he sends you. Look. He turned a testimony into a ministry like Dan said, and that's step 12. It's not about just being a recipient of grace. It's about being a messenger of it. And look, people say, well, he wanted to follow Jesus. Why didn't he take him in? Why he, he told him to go. Because guess what? That's how you get close to Jesus is by going. Look, we're called to follow in his footsteps and what did Jesus do? He came and the first thing he said, he proclaimed the good news to the poor, to set the captives free. That's what he wants to do in your life. That's what the Holy Spirit empowers us to do. That's what it's about. It's about letting God be God and going, telling others about this God who can and will do more than we could ever imagine. More than we could ever think. Why? Because he loves us and he loves the world. He's not, what does it say? He's not slack concerning his promises. Mm-hmm. His humans are, but he wants his desire, his goal is that any and all can be saved. Well, the Bible says faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God. The word of God is not some cer seminary, school pulpit message that breaks down what the actual Greek and Hebrew words mean and no. It's about what the word of God done in your life. Who is Jesus to you? Look, if I wanna, if I would've wanted to marry my wife, if I would've told her, Hey, I want you to go to a restaurant, meet me there, and I would've had somebody else sit down and tell her all about me, probably wouldn't have went, well, this is us sitting with people at that table. Showing who Jesus is in our life. When Jesus saved Matthew, the first thing Matthew did is he went and got all his friends and Jesus said, throw a party. Right? Invite those publications and invite those harlots Pharisees. What are you doing? The righteous need repentance. Jesus is like, what are you doing? Yeah, what are you doing? He who's not sick doesn't need healed. Look. This is us going back to those people that need healing and letting Jesus use us to be that comfort in their lives. If you wanna get close to Jesus and you wanna follow Jesus, then go, because Jesus came, he left his home on high, that holy ground. He was seated at the right hand of the Father before he ever came. He left that to be born in a dingy old manger. To live a life so that me and you could find forgiveness through him so that he could willingly carry across the calvary. But guess what? He didn't stay on that cross and he didn't stay in the tomb,

Dan: 26:39

Justin, early in my recovery, I, I remember I was probably, maybe almost a year in recovery. It, was, I was young. I just remember feeling the call of God on my life. Mm. And I knew I wanted to do something for God. I didn't know what that was. I just wanted to do something. And I remember just getting so excited and just, and this goes back, be careful who you talk to. Go back and listen to those, our previous podcast episodes,'cause we talk about this because, you know, Not everybody's for you in your recovery. And some people are just megaphones.

Justin: 27:21

Hmm.

Dan: 27:22

You know, and I remember I went and shared this with, with close people in my life that I wanted to be in the ministry. And I was thinking just in that, you know, they would be excited for me, that they would be happy for me. And honestly, dude, I was shot with so much criticism. I was told that, I've not been in recovery long enough. I was told that I wasn't. I've not sat long enough that I need to sit under a pastor for seven years, is what was told to me, and then go before a board and they would dictate if I could get my license or not. After running my background, after doing a credit check, after going over my finance, this is the honest to god truth. Justin and I begin to believe this, I begin to believe that maybe I'm not called, maybe it wasn't God's voice I was hearing, maybe it was just indigestion from the tacos I had the night before. And then the Lord spoke to me just like he did that day in my room. He spoke to me in a, in a, just a clear, audible voice because I was believing God that I couldn't, that I wouldn't ever be called. The Lord spoke to me that day and said, whoever said that you could. And he said they didn't call you. I did. Amen. Family, that individual, your pastor, your spouse, your family, they didn't call you. Jesus said, go. Go and the scripture right after it says, and I'm with you, always, always, they didn't call you family. You don't need more time. You don't need a title. You've been healed. You've been sent. Now go, because your greatest ministry family, your greatest ministry that you'll ever have is that life that you lived. Redeemed by Grace.

Justin: 29:39

That's where it's at. Jesus told him to go. That is not, he didn't just tell Peter, Paul and John, right? No, you guys go. Everybody else just said No. Go is a commission. It's called the Great Commission because it's to all the church, all those who come to Christ. Look it. It's not about outreach, it's about overflow. I don't know about you, but I don't give out because I have to. I give out because I want to. Mm-hmm. I have been my cup overfloweth. That is for the other people. You think of a picture of a cup, right, and what's in the cup. That's for you. That's yours. That's God's filling you with that man, and that's so that you know he's God. That's the goodness that gives you the strength to carry on throughout the day. When you feel weak, the outside of the cup man, that's that God that's on you. That's that Jesus shine as I call it, because you can tell somebody when they walk in, that's just been touched by God. Oh yeah. You can tell a life redeemed by grace that you, it's no explaining it. You can just look and say, man, there's something different. The grace of God has been there, and then there's that saucer. That's where the overflows out. That's for others. That's so that people can taste and see that the Lord is good. Look, the love that you found, the truth that rescued you, the power that carried you, that's what someone else is dying to know exists. Mm-hmm. That testimony of what happened to you in that moment when Christ touched your life, there was enough power in it to change yours, and there's enough power in it to change the lives of others. A life redeemed by grace is a light that shines bright, and Jesus says, do not hide your light under a bushel. You put a lamp stand on a table so that everybody can see. The problem is it's getting dark out there and too many people's putting a, they're putting it under the table.

Dan: 31:55

Well,'cause you got clowns like that guy that told me that you gotta sit for seven years under somebody, you're not ready. What an ignorant statement to say to somebody. Do not listen to people like that because. Like God told me that day, people don't call you family. You are not called by people. Now do I do I agree. You need to sit under a pastor. Absolutely. Absolutely. Please don't misconstrue or twist what I'm saying. You need to. Sit under a shepherd, but for someone to come up there and tell you you don't have enough recovery time under your belt to be able to share the good news of God, you run from that as fast as you can because there are people every single day, Justin, that are dying and overdosing and families are being ripped apart. Yes, because you have people that will tell you You don't have enough clean time to share your story. You don't have a polished testimony to share your story. You don't got a degree to share your story. So what are you doing? You begin to believe those lies, and because you are sitting there with a powerful recovery story, people are dying in the streets. And as we get ready to wrap this podcast up, I ask Justin, who needs.

Justin: 33:16

What you now carry, and I love what you said, guys, don't misinterpret what we're saying. Sometimes God needs a refining period for your finished calling. But until then, the will of God is that you. Like I said, you don't have to have seven years under your belt to go share the gospel. All you need is a testimony of who Jesus Christ is, what he's done, and what he will do. Don't let some, like Dan said, some clown tell you, well, you've gotta sit here for seven years or 41 days, and four score and seven. No. If you've got a testimony, share it now. I'm not saying don't sit under teaching.

Dan: 33:56

Mm-hmm.

Justin: 33:56

I'm not saying that. Not at all, because I needed four years of sitting in a church pew before I became a pastor. But you know what I did in that time? I was sitting in the church pew. I shared my testimony with the church members. I shared my testimony in the gospel with people out in the world that that wasn't your past, doesn't disqualify you. It makes you right for who God wants you to be. You've been entrusted with hope. Amen. You've been given a message that someone out there is drowning in darkness, that you were pulled from, that God wants to shine your light in. They need proof that freedom is possible, and at the end of the day, look, family, that's you. It's not your pastor. If it was up to the pastor, there only one man. Take it from somebody who's a pastor. I tell my church all the time, it's easy on Sunday mornings to preach to people who might want to be in church. The real mission field is your workplace. The real mission field is your home. Amen. It's the grocery store you find yourself in. Don't think that you can't share the gospel just because you're not in a church building or you have some fancy title. We're all called to share the gospel. If that was the case, Peter would've been disqualified. We just talked about him last episode, denying Jesus. But what did he tell him? And look, he's telling you today, go feed my sheep. Mm-hmm. Go teach my people. Quit hiding behind this mindset that I can't, and start trusting that God can.

Dan: 35:31

Amen. Well, let's be real for a second. You know, as we get ready to wrap this podcast up, you know, there was a time Justin, when I didn't think I was gonna make it out. Hmm. Listener. If you're honest with yourself, there was a time. Maybe not too long ago, maybe 40 years ago, I don't know. But there was a time when you didn't think you was gonna make it out, when you didn't see a way forward where you were just stuck drowning. There was a time when you were crushed by shame. Hmm. There was those nights where we would sit in our bedrooms and cry ourselves to sleep, just praying for a breakthrough and not even sure if it was ever gonna come. But because of grace. Hmm. Because of his mercies New. Every single morning you're here, you're still standing, you're still breathing, you're still fighting. Family, you've been through too much. You've seen too much. You've been rescued from too much to stay silent now. The truth is, there's someone out there right now in that exact place that you used to be. They're hurting behind closed doors. They're, they're surrounded by people, but they're feeling just lost and alone. They're looking in that mirror and they're not recognizing that face that's looking back at him. They're scared to death. To ask for help'cause they're convinced that nobody's gonna understand. But family, you understand why? Because you've walked that path. You've cried those tears, you've asked those same questions that they're asking now, and now you and I carry something that can change everything for someone else. Not perfection, not a polished message, but perspective, truth, hope this is the moment where your healing shifts from eternal to external. Because step 12 family isn't just about outreach. Justin's, like you said, it's about overflow. You've been filled, you've been restored, and now the power of grace in your life is too real for you to keep to yourself. You're not called to be impressive. You're called to be impactful. You don't need to preach. You just need to be present. You don't gotta fix them. That's not your job to fix people. You just need to show'em Justin, that freedom's possible. And here's the kicker. You may be the only glimpse of hope that someone ever sees. You may be the only living proof that they'll trust you. My friend may be the voice they clinging to when everything else in their life is falling apart. So don't let people, don't let doubt. Holds your story hostage. Don't wait until you feel or someone tells you that you're spiritually qualified family. You're ready. Not because you're perfect, but because you're different. You've been changed. You've been called, you've been sent family. Your healing becomes whole. When it starts healing others, let it flow, let it speak. Let it reach the broken, the bound, the weary, the wandering, because that's what Grace does. Family. It moves through you to someone else. Justin, we are ran way over, brother, but this is too powerful just to keep it in some box. But brother, help us wrap. Wrap this thing up for

Justin: 39:45

us, man. Step 12. It's not a graduation, it's a commissioning. You've had a spiritual awakening. You've come to realize that God is God. You've seen him move in your life. You've seen him do things that only he can do. Now it's time to carry that message, not just with your words, with the life you live. You're not just rooted and recovered. You're called. Look, guys. We need your prayer. As we get ready to wrap this season up and go into season two, there's a lot more that God has that he wants to do. Amen. And that's why I'm going to, I'm gonna ask you just to keep praying. I'm gonna ask you to keep praying for the ones that this reach so that they might find the freedom. You might think it's nothing but like, share, subscribe, get the message out there that there is more to this life than just a life filled with addiction, than a life filled with anger and bitterness and just the same old, same old, that people can step out of that cycle and find freedom in Christ. Guys, as we prepare to end this all for this season. I just wanna say thank you.

Dan: 41:13

Hmm.

Justin: 41:14

I wanna say thank you for letting us be here. Thank you for letting us go through these steps. I will say one more thing. Make sure that you've got somebody walking these steps with you. Fellowship is a vital role in this, and that's what it's about. And we are your family. If you, if you feel like you don't have anybody, send a message on Facebook and let us know where you're at and. Be surprised. You might have somebody right around there that's willing to meet up and talk. Amen guys, I love you, but more importantly, Jesus does.

Dan: 41:45

Amen. He sure does. He loves you so much family that he died for you. He loves you so much that as we've talked about through these last 12 steps, that you can cast your anxieties and your cares and your burdens and all that on him, and he'll take'em from you. God, as we, as we finish step 12. You've walked the steps, not just in theory, but through the fire. Amen. You've surrendered what you've clung to. You face that mirror you once avoided. You made the call that you never thought you'd make. You let go of the weight that used to define you, and now guess what? Now you go back. Mm-hmm. Not to stay, not to relive the past, but to rescue the ones. Who are still trapped in it'cause freedom, family. It's it. It isn't just a gift, guys. Freedom's a responsibility. Amen. And you are living proof that God still moves, that God still heals, that God still redeems broken people, and that God still builds powerful testimonies. One shattered life at a time. Amen. So don't you dare listen to people, and don't you dare shrink now and go back into your cave. Don't silence the story that God wrote with your survival. Don't hold back the hope that someone else is dying for. Speak boldly, even if your voice shakes live deeply, even when it's messy. Lead humbly. You remember family, where you came from. You're not just recovered as Justin so beautifully put it. You're commissioned, you've been trusted with grace. Now you carry that thing into the darkest places and you remind others what's possible. This is the calling family. This is the mission. This is the movement. So here's your charge. Stay rooted, stay recovered, family, and let's get to work.

44:09

You are not just surviving. You are becoming, becoming rooted in truth, becoming recovered by grace, and becoming the person God always knew you could be. Thanks for joining us on Rooted in Recovered. If this episode stirred something in you, don't keep it to yourself. Share it, live it, let it take root. We'll see you next time right here where scars become testimonies and hope rises from the ashes.