Some of the people I admire most are those in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction.

I realise that may sound surprising.

But as a pastor, a church member and simply another human being, I look at many people in recovery with enormous respect.

Partly because I know myself.

I know how difficult it is to resist something as small as a piece of chocolate when I’m trying to lose weight.

I know how easily I can spend too long scrolling social media for no apparent reason.

I know how quickly habits form and how hard they are to break.

And yet there are people who have become physically and chemically dependent on alcohol or drugs who somehow make the decision, day after day, not to go back.

Of course, recovery is rarely simple. There may be counselling, rehab, medication, support groups and countless difficult conversations. Many people would say recovery is not a victory for a single day, but a choice made over and over again as each new day begins.

Even so, I find that deeply impressive.

Sometimes churches speak about people with addiction histories as though their past defines them.

“He used to be an addict.”

“She struggled with alcohol.”

But when I meet people in recovery, I often think something very different.

You have done something remarkable, and I take my hat off to you.

Not because you are perfect. Not because the battle has disappeared. But because you have learned to face reality honestly and choose a different future.

And perhaps that is something all of us need.

Because addiction is not the only thing that masters people.

Some are mastered by food.

Some by work.

Some by money.

Some by approval.

Some by anger.

Some by social media.

The details differ, but the struggle is real.

So what can we learn from our friends in recovery?

1. We need other people

Many people begin their recovery journey in community, whether through a 12-step programme or another support network. They recognise they cannot do it alone and are willing to be honest about their struggles.

Is there something you need to share with someone today?

2. Boundaries matter

People in recovery often put boundaries in place to protect their progress. They may avoid certain places, habits or relationships because they know these things make the journey harder.

Are there boundaries you need to set to protect your own progress?

3. Celebrate progress, not perfection

Recovery is rarely a straight line. It is often a journey marked by many small victories along the way.

How good are you at celebrating how far you have come, even while recognising there is still further to go?

So today, if you are someone who has overcome addiction, or are still fighting that battle, I simply want to say: well done.

You can teach the rest of us a great deal.

The church can learn from you.

And perhaps all of us, in one way or another, are fellow travellers learning what it means to be free.