Some days, recovery feels like it’s breaking you. We’ve been there—staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m., rattled by drug dreams, angry at ourselves, and wondering whether God had stepped away. This conversation goes right into that tension and traces how the hurt of early sobriety became the doorway to real healing. We talk about the shock of losing the life that addiction built around us—friends who fade, routines that vanish, and a personality that suddenly feels unfamiliar—and how grief for a harmful past can coexist with hope for a better future.
We also pull back the curtain on the deeper work that came after the substances stopped. Stopping behavior wasn’t the finish line. God started addressing shame, the lies we believed, unforgiveness we carried, and the pride and self-pity that kept us stuck. That inner surgery hurt, but it revealed something crucial: recovery wasn’t punishment. It was a rescue plan. With Scripture anchoring our steps and honest voices from people a bit farther down the road, we learned to see every painful layer as purposeful, not pointless.
You’ll hear three truths that kept us from quitting when it felt unbearable: pain isn’t proof God left; progress matters but grace holds us; and recovery is bigger than you, stretching into family, future children, and a legacy the enemy would rather steal. We close with a simple prayer of surrender, a reminder that you don’t need to have it all together to ask for help, and an invitation to keep going even when you feel worn out. If this story strengthens you or someone you love, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations on faith and recovery, and leave a review to help others find hope. What part of your healing needs fresh strength today?

Welcome to Rebuilding Life After Addiction. I’m Justin Franich — I’ve led recovery programs, pastored churches, and walked hundreds of men into real transformation. This podcast gives you the tools, truth, and straight talk to rebuild your life through Jesus. Let’s jump in.

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