10 Years SoberSample

Day 8: Between Reveal and Release

Early on in my sobriety, I had moments when I felt God was revealing a vision of what Hope Is Alive could be, and what our community of a handful of guys in one home full of miracles and restoration could be when replicated and reproduced. I believe God gave me a vision that this could take place anywhere in the country, but it wasn't until year eight when the vision was really released. 

After years of revelation, year eight was the year of release, the year when we opened eight homes despite never having opened more than three in any previous year, spreading into more far-flung areas. It was a year with an outpouring of community support, financial support, and excitement. 

But there was a lot of time between the first reveal and the release because in between reveal and release, there has to be recovery. 

Reveal is about death to self in order to make room for something bigger, different, and God-authored. 

Recovery is the hardest stage because it’s where the rubber meets the road when it comes to faith, patience, perseverance, and growth. It takes real work.

Release is the fulfillment of everything you worked for in the recovery stage when you’re living fully released in God’s will. 

I don’t think I can overstate how difficult the recovery stage can be. It’s tough, it’s daunting, and it can be discouraging, but it’s right where God wants you to be. 

You have seen something that’s captivated you—a vision, a dream, a possible future—it’s been revealed. But you must build up a foundation, you must put in the hard work to reap the benefits of the release. 

And hear me now: it can be really hard to do the recovery work as you meditate on your reveal. You’ll get rejected. You’ll go through hardships and tests. You’ll have to face some of the hardest things you’ve ever had to face. 

But it’s all worth it.