The crazy dude in Mark 5 is the prototype for Step 1. His life was unmanageable, and he was powerless to do anything about it. To be specific, “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain” (Mark 5:4).
Did you catch that word, anymore? That indicates there had been a time when they could bind him, but not anymore.
That is a picture of addiction. You couldn’t stay off porn anymore. You couldn’t avoid the chat lines anymore. You couldn’t live free from masturbation anymore. You couldn’t bounce your eyes anymore.
The things that once kept you sober no longer did – being on Covenant Eyes, a blocker on your device, no television in the house, getting off social media, not carrying any cash with you. These things used to keep you sober, but not anymore.
Shayne Sundholm, CEO of Clean Recovery Centers, writes on the progressive nature of addiction. “A vicious cycle takes over. More and more of the substance is required to get the same high. As more of the substance is consumed, the body’s physical and psychological need for the drug increases.”
Thus, what worked before, doesn’t work anymore.
Recovery Step: There aren’t enough exterior tools in the world to keep you sober anymore. What you need now is a spiritual transformation.
