Last Sunday, November 9, 2025, I had the incredible privilege of speaking at Cedar Falls Christian Church for their Celebrate Recovery Sunday service. It was a morning filled with authenticity, worship, and grace — a space where people came together to celebrate freedom, not perfection.
The message I shared was titled “Powerless,” and it centered on a truth that has transformed my own life: freedom doesn’t come from strength or control — it comes from surrender.
There was something special about this service. The congregation’s openness, combined with the vulnerability in the room, allowed me to see how people were engaged with what was being shared. The power of God’s presence reminded me why I continue to share my story — because someone always needs to hear that hope is still possible.
YouTube Recording: Watch the service here
For most of my life, I misunderstood the word powerless.
To me, it sounded like defeat — like giving up or admitting failure. But through Celebrate Recovery, I learned that being powerless isn’t about weakness; it’s about honesty.
For over 20 years, I battled a pornography addiction and the silent weight of codependency — caring more about what others thought of me than what God thought of me. I told myself I could manage it, control it, and fix it when I was ready. But every time I tried to handle it on my own, I failed again and again.
When I finally walked through the doors of Celebrate Recovery, I was tired — tired of pretending, tired of hiding, and tired of trying to be my own savior. It was there that I realized what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:3:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Admitting I was powerless wasn’t a step backward. It was the first step toward healing.
During the message, I shared four practical actions that help us live out surrender — two things to stop doing, and two to start doing:
Stop denying the pain. Healing can’t begin until we stop pretending everything is fine. Like David in Psalm 6:2–3, we cry out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint.”
Stop playing God. Control is an illusion. When we finally let God be God, we make room for His power to work in our weakness.
Start admitting powerlessness. It’s okay to say, “I can’t do this.” In fact, that’s where transformation begins.
Start admitting life is unmanageable. Honesty is the first act of faith. God rebuilds what pride tries to hide.
When we surrender, we stop pretending and start trusting. That’s what true freedom looks like.
In true Celebrate Recovery fashion, I also walked through the acrostic for POWERLESS, which captures what happens when we trade our control for God’s grace:
P – Pride: kept me from asking for help.
O – Only Ifs: kept me stuck in regret instead of living in the present.
W – Worry: is faith in reverse.
E – Escape: never worked; healing did.
R – Resentment: forgiveness set me free.
L – Loneliness: community in CR broke my isolation.
E – Emptiness: Jesus filled what success never could.
S – Selfishness: recovery shifted my prayer from “Give me” to “Use me.”
S – Separation: nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38–39).
Each letter reminded me that surrender isn’t losing control — it’s letting go of what was never mine to hold in the first place.
One of the most powerful parts of Celebrate Recovery Sunday came at the end — the Blue Chip moment.
In CR, the first chip we hand out represents surrender. It’s not a reward for perfection but a declaration of trust: “I’m done trying to fix this alone.”
We passed out blue chips to all in attendance, and as I looked across the sanctuary, I saw people taking them: some holding a blue chip in their hand, some praying quietly, and some, I believe, choosing surrender over control. I was reminded again that God never wastes a single story.
If you’re local, I encourage you to join Celebrate Recovery right here at Cedar Falls Christian Church on Thursday nights. Otherwise, visit CRLocator.com to find a meeting near you. I promise you that you’ll find love, accountability, and a community that walks beside you through every season.
Dear God,
I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.
Help me step out of denial and into Your truth. Help me surrender what I can’t control and trust You with what I can’t fix.
Fill me with Your Spirit and remind me that I’m never alone.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Watch the full Celebrate Recovery Sunday service: YouTube Video
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