Be wise about who you tell your story to, how much of it you tell, and when to stop talking.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “There is a false form of honesty that suggests that nothing should remain hidden and that everything should be said.” He then talked about “protecting your inner sanctuary.”
There is often a tendency to tell too many people too much information about our addiction too soon. We must practice wisdom in these things – the wisdom James spoke of.
“The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason” (James 3:17).
When it comes to sharing your story, I leave you with three principles:
- Someone needs to know everything.
- Many need to know something.
- Some need to know nothing.
Recovery Step: Be careful what you say and when you say it.
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.
