Learning To Ride A Bicycle

Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle?

There were so many skills to grasp – such as pushing off, pedalling, balancing, steering – and then you had to learn to do them all together at the same time. Initially we probably needed someone alongside to guide and encourage. 

Most of us will remember that learning to ride a bicycle inevitably resulted in wobbles and fallings off. However, with practice cycling got easier; we would only wobble when unexpected situations arose such as something blocking the path or a distraction breaking our concentration. 

Eventually cycling became so second nature to us that obstacles and distractions no longer caused us even to wobble.

It’s the same when we begin learning to walk in recovery.

There are many principles to grasp – such as admitting we need God’s help, being honest, believing God over our feelings, forgiving others, making amends. It’s often helpful to have someone alongside us to guide and encourage us. 

Just like learning to ride a bicycle, learning to walk in recovery isn’t immediately smooth and wobble-free. There may be relapses in the early days. Don’t give up! With practice, recovery will get easier; only unexpected situations – to challenge us or distract our focus from recovery – wobble us. 

And eventually, as we keep practising, walking in recovery will become so second nature to us that even when obstacles and distractions arise we won’t wobble, because our whole outlook on life has been transformed.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9