It’s one of the saddest verses in the Bible: “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more” (John 6:66).
In the recovery world, we call that relapse.
We find the following data on relapse from the Recovery Village.
- Following treatment, 80% suffer relapse within the first year.
- After two years of sobriety, the relapse rate drops to 40%.
- The relapse rate after five years of sobriety is just 15%.
The bad news is this – relapse happens. The good news is – it doesn’t have to.
You don’t have to turn away – from Jesus or recovery. The key to long-term sobriety is short-term sobriety. And the key to short-term sobriety is what you do for the next 24 hours.
Recovery Step: You really have just two choices: move forward or turn back. And I think we both know which is the right way to go.
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.
