The Role of Prayer in Recovery

​There’s no getting around that recovery from addiction can be difficult, but one of the tools that you’ll always have at your disposal in addition to a well-rounded treatment program is prayer. Here are some of the ways that prayer can help you in your recovery from addiction. 

Gain humility. 

Prayer is an act of humility where you recognize that you can’t overcome addiction alone. It requires getting on your knees and asking for the Lord’s help in your recovery from addiction. This in itself helps you to gain humility, which is essential for a successful recovery. Having humility prepares you to accept help from others—be they family, friends, or addiction recovery specialists—and enables you to overcome any pride that might be keeping you from receiving treatment or learning about the tools you need to overcome addiction. 

Relieve stress. 

Prayer can also help to relieve stress in your life. This can only help as you navigate the early stages of recovery, since stress is often a trigger for relapse. When you decide to let go of the things you cannot control and turn them over to the Lord, you’ll find that a great deal of burden is lifted off of your shoulders, and you can instead focus on the things that are within your control—staying on top of your sobriety, for example. Moreover, you’ll find comfort in the fact that you can always return to prayer in times of stress and hardship. In short, you can use prayer the same way that many use meditation in recovery to relieve stress. 

Find peace. 

Prayer can offer you peace as you ask for forgiveness for past transgressions and resolve to do better. It need not be a time for harboring self-doubt or feelings of shame over what you have done in the past; rather, you can see prayer as an opportunity to face your past actions head-on and then, most importantly, move on from them. 

Gain added strength. 

Turning to the Lord when you decide to overcome your addiction grants you the opportunity to ask for added strength in your efforts. Choosing to overcome addiction is always a good decision, and you can expect a request for help in overcoming shortcomings to be heard. Prayer, then, can truly open the door to gaining an added measure of strength in those times during your recovery when you’ll need it most. And when you’ve enlisted heavenly help in your recovery, you’ll go forth with the knowledge and assurance that you aren’t going through this alone.

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