This may be my favorite verse from the Old Testament . . .
“Now the word of God came to Jonah the second time” (Jonah 3:1).
God spoke to Jonah a second time because Jonah messed up the first time. It would have been impossible to fail any more miserably than Jonah failed. But life is all about second chances.
New beginnings.
Overcoming.
Thomas Edison wrote, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
If you have had a slip, relapse, or some other shortcoming in your recovery work, fear not. Keep moving. Keep listening. The word of God will come to you a second time.
Recovery Step: Follow the God of second chances.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
