Out of the Doghouse

And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. 2 Chronicles 12:12

A couple of times a year, I’m asked to speak to church or recovery groups, telling my story of addiction, faith, and recovery. I’m not a great speaker, but it’s a compelling story and I don’t say no because it’s another opportunity to help others and to share my message. The last couple of times I’ve been asked to speak, my wife has participated, which is helpful, because people often want to know her side of the story. In fact, one of the most common questions I get is actually for her – How did you forgive him?

My wife would say that for her to begin to believe things were going to be different, she had to see radically different behavior for a long time. What was this radically different behavior that she needed to see? It wasn’t only sobriety. She had to see the opposite of my previous life, which wasn’t just about not using drugs. What she had to see was that I lived not for myself, but for God, continually pursuing his will for my life. She had to see a humility that surrendered my right to do what I wanted so that I could live as God wanted.

This is the same humility described in today’s passage. In the story, King Rehoboam wandered from God, going his own way. The people of Israel followed Rehoboam’s rebellion and so, they suffered painful consequences, as God allowed Egypt to conquer Israel. In their pain, King Rehoboam repented, humbled himself, and returned to following God. This is what God needed to see. Once God observed that Rehoboam had truly humbled himself, surrendering his right to go his own way, God forgave and restored his people.

This is the same humility God needs to see from us. When we’re suffering the painful consequences of going our own way, we must humble ourselves before God, surrendering our right to choose our own way. If we desire to experience the new life God wants for us, then we must humbly abandon our path for his. Only then, will God see that we’ve truly chosen the new life.