What if the first year after quitting isn’t about grit, but grace? We sit down with Matt to unpack the overlooked stretch between an altar moment and a polished testimony, and what actually turns survival into freedom. His story exposes the trap of white-knuckle sobriety, the pride that creeps in at six months clean, and the lie that God holds His nose when you slip. Then comes the pivot: Jesus didn’t only die for our sins; He lives as our righteousness right now. That truth moved from head to heart and ended the relapse-probation spiral.

Together we trace how identity shifts from slave to son when Scripture becomes an on-ramp to a Person rather than an end in itself. Matt explains how stillness, slow reading, and honest prayer transformed discipline into delight. He contrasts the “public touch” of a meeting with the “private kiss” of daily intimacy, showing why hype fades but presence sustains. Along the way we address opioid bondage, imputed righteousness, and the myth of “once an addict, always an addict,” grounding each insight in concrete practices and anchors like Psalm 139 and Isaiah 41:10.

We also speak directly to listeners battling mental illness after quitting substances. Matt offers a compassionate framework for soul wounds and the Savior who fills the holes we try to stuff with habits. Expect practical encouragement—short scriptures savored, quick repentance without self-condemnation, and a steady return to the One who says, come to me. If you’re tired of self-help, this conversation invites self-abandonment and the kind of sonship that steadies tomorrow before it arrives.

If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with the line that hit you hardest. Your story is still being written—let grace hold the pen.

Welcome to Rebuilding Life After Addiction. I’m Justin Franich — I’ve led recovery programs, pastored churches, and walked hundreds of men into real transformation. This podcast gives you the tools, truth, and straight talk to rebuild your life through Jesus. Let’s jump in.

Support the mission → https://giving.svtc.info/page/RebuildingHope

Share this episode and leave a review to help more families find hope.

Watch & subscribe on YouTube — https://youtube.com/@justinfranich