Faith is manifest in the simple things

 

One of my favorite stories from the Old Testament is about Naaman (2 Kings 5). It is a powerful account that our faith in Jesus Christ is often shown through our simple actions. Naaman had leprosy and was commanded to bathe in the river Jordan seven times. The simpleness of the task of bathing in the river Jordan upset Naaman. In his mind, Naaman was looking for something important and powerful to do. He was taught, by a simple servant, that it wasn’t the impact of the task that mattered. It was doing what God commanded so he could be healed. Naaman went to the river Jordan, bathed seven times, and was healed.

Addiction recovery has so many similarities to Naaman’s story. As an addict, I would have done any great and impossible task to find recovery. Analyzing those feelings, I realize now that my resolve was founded on pride and not faith. I wanted to bang my chest about the amazing things I had done. I wanted the glory. I wanted to be great! This attitude ultimately led me to relapse several times.

When I finally decided that I wanted to find recovery, I learned the Lord isn’t asking me to do anything grand. The Lord, Jesus Christ, is asking me to do two simple things: have faith in Him and repent. It started with simple things like praying each morning and making time to write in my journal where I saw God’s hand in my life. My simple things evolved to include scripture study, especially the Book of Mormon, and going to Church. I found my simple things evolving again to include service and finally found myself within the walls of the temple.

The Lord never asked me to do anything grand. It was quite the opposite. Jesus Christ asked me to do simple things with simple actions. Once I started to do that, Jesus was the one who did the rest. My desire to relapse was replaced with a desire to serve. My thirst for lust and vanity was replaced with charity and kindness. My desire to put myself above others was replaced with cheering on everyone around me. I didn’t make any of those changes. I couldn’t make any of those changes. The Lord, Jesus Christ, is who made those changes.

Addiction recovery is a miracle written by small and simple actions! A person doesn’t have to do anything grand to find recovery. A person just has to have faith in Jesus Christ and repent to find recovery from addiction. Our faith is manifest when we do the simple things that Jesus has asked us to do.

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