"The Day I Stopped Saving Myself and Let Jesus Take Over"

Losing My Life to Save It: What Mark 8:35 Taught Me About Recovery

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” — Mark 8:35 (NIV)
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There’s a strange kind of freedom in hitting rock bottom. It’s a place no one ever wants to go, but sometimes, it’s where God speaks loudest.

I remember thinking that if I could just get things under control, if I could fix everything—my relationships, my past, my pain—then maybe I could get my life back. I thought recovery was about pulling myself up and proving I was strong enough. But the more I tried to “save” my life, the more I lost it—emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.

Then I came across Mark 8:35, and everything changed.

The Lie of Self-Sufficiency

In addiction, and even in early recovery, there’s this strong urge to stay in control. We want to manage outcomes, keep our image intact, and hold onto our own ways of coping. But this verse turns that idea completely upside down. Jesus says that if we try to save our life, we’ll lose it—but if we’re willing to lose it for Him, that’s when we’ll truly be saved.

At first, that sounded harsh. But then I realized—Jesus wasn’t trying to take something from me. He was offering to replace the false life I’d built with one that was real, lasting, and free.

What It Means to “Lose” Your Life

Losing your life doesn’t mean physical death—it means surrender. It’s laying down the version of life you created without God: the life built on fear, ego, addiction, trauma, and pride. For me, it meant admitting that my way didn’t work. That I had to stop trying to save myself through quick fixes and instead surrender everything to Jesus—even the parts I didn’t want to let go of.

In recovery, surrender is everything. It’s the foundation. And it’s the same kind of surrender Jesus is talking about. We hand over the mess we made, the pain we caused, the masks we wore—and He gives us back something we never could’ve imagined: peace, identity, and purpose.

What You Gain When You Let Go

Jesus isn’t calling us to lose our lives just for the sake of loss. He’s calling us into something better. When we give Him our life, He gives us one rooted in truth, grace, and healing.

I used to chase things that only led to destruction—numbing the pain, impressing people, staying in toxic patterns. But when I finally let all of that go and gave my heart to Him, I started to actually live. Not just survive—but live. With joy, with meaning, and with the kind of love that addiction never could offer.

For Anyone in Recovery...

If you’re in recovery right now, and you’re trying to do it all in your own strength, can I just say—you don’t have to. You don’t need to carry it all anymore. Jesus is inviting you to lay it down. Not to punish you, but to set you free. His arms are open. His grace is bigger than your past. And He’s not ashamed of your story—He wants to redeem it.

Just for Today

Just for today, I will stop trying to control and save my life on my own. I will surrender it to Jesus, trusting that in losing what I thought was life, I will gain something far better. I will lean into His love, His grace, and His purpose for me.

You don’t find freedom by clinging tighter—you find it by letting go.
Lose your life for Jesus... and watch Him give you one worth living. ✝️🔥

If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope today. You can also follow me on YouTube at Breaking the Chains for more recovery-centered faith content. 🙌💬



#BreakingTheChains #JesusAndRecovery #Mark835 #SurrenderToJesus #FaithInRecovery #ChristianRecovery #LetGoLetGod #FreedomInChrist

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