Genesis 2:15 – “God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to work it and to guard it.”
What work was Adam supposed to do in the Garden of Eden? After all, everything grew on its own. God wanted Adam to observe God’s commandments and grow in spiritual awareness. That was Adam’s “work.”
As recovering addicts, this is our work as well. Our job in recovery is to work on ourselves. If we work on ourselves, devoting ourselves to follow the commandments and learning, dedicating ourselves to increasing our spiritual selves, we are doing the important task that has been assigned to us in recovery. Like Adam, we have a clear mission. Sometimes, though, in the fog of our illness, we cannot see how simple the assignment is. Our homework in recovery, therefore, is to think about the simplicity, but enormity of this work. We can do it, though. By telling us about Adam’s work in the Garden of Eden, God is showing us how to do our work in recovery.
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Interested in more daily reflections on sobriety based on inspiration from the Old Testament? Our book of daily reflections and 12-step workbook can be resources for you in recovery.
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