March 17, 2026 “Preparing in Peace for the Hard Days!”

When we feel calm in our mind, heart, and spirit, it is a time to plan how we will care for ourselves when suffering returns. So we ask: how will we cope when we feel overwhelmed?

Those of us who walk in Recovery learn that a struggle is a lack of spiritual connection, not a lack of desire. Recovery helps us move through dry times and find peace again.

When our mental health and substance misuse are stable, we can prepare for the future. Many of us see that Recovery moves like a boomerang—back and forth between clarity and confusion. Before each emotional dip, there is often a moment of peace. This peace is a gift.

God gives us this peace so our healing can evolve, our hearts can love more, and our lives can be renewed. In these calm moments, the Spirit gently nudges, guides, and teaches us.

When we prepare ahead of time for suffering, we are better able to face the storms. We are stronger when depression, anxiety, trauma, or substance use urges return because of our preparation. Recovery calls us to get ready during times of peace. We can choose helpful thoughts and actions that support us when things get hard.

For me, I attend two support groups each week. In the past, when I started to feel better, I stopped going. But then my depression and anxiety came back. Now I know that whether I feel peace or suffering, I need to keep going. Staying spiritually connected is an essential part of my healing.

I have learned to think in a way that keeps me showing up. This helps me catch a setback early, before it grows worse.

Recovery invites us to live with daily spiritual awareness. We notice both the dry places and the peaceful places within us. When we feel peace, we use that time to prepare for future struggles. This steady awareness helps us live a thoughtful and honest life, one day at a time.