Why Do I Keep Drinking When I Want to Stop? Faith-based Recovery from Alcohol

If you’ve ever woken up after another night of drinking and thought, “Why did I do it again? I swore I wouldn’t”, you’re not alone. Few things are more crushing than the cycle of wanting freedom but finding yourself chained once more. You may feel ashamed, guilty, even hopeless as if you’re destined to stay this way forever.

But the fact that you’re even asking this question “Why do I keep drinking when I want to stop?” reveals something deeper: you recognize your brokenness, and you long for freedom. That recognition is not just human frustration; it is evidence of God stirring your heart toward Him.

True healing comes through Christ, and faith based recovery from alcohol offers the hope and strength that self-help methods alone can’t provide.

The Bible describes this inner conflict vividly. The Apostle Paul cries out in Romans 7: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing… Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Paul understood the very struggle you face. So, the question becomes: what’s really happening when you want to quit drinking but can’t, and how does the gospel provide the only lasting answer?

The world often tells us that if we just “try harder” or use the right self-help techniques, we can conquer our struggles. But Scripture reminds us of a sobering truth: by nature, we are enslaved to sin (John 8:34). Alcohol may be the visible symptom, but the deeper problem is the sinful heart.

This is why willpower collapses so easily. You can muster up determination for a day, a week, or maybe even a month, but eventually, the cravings roar back. Why? Because sin is not merely a bad habit to break it is a power that enslaves.

Think of it like trying to patch a leaking roof during a thunderstorm. You might slow the drip for a moment, but the storm rages on. Until the root problem is addressed, the leaks continue.

Willpower may look strong for a season, but apart from Christ, it cannot overcome the bondage of sin. Left to ourselves, we cannot rescue ourselves. As Jesus said plainly: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

When you drink even though you want to stop, it is not merely a battle of mind over matter — it is a spiritual battle. Paul explains in Galatians 5:17: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

The Christian life is a war zone. The flesh: your sinful nature craves what is destructive, while the Spirit calls you to life and holiness. This explains the torment you feel inside. You’re not crazy, and you’re not uniquely broken. You are experiencing the very reality of living in a fallen body while longing for God’s freedom.

From a Reformed perspective, this battle also humbles us. It reminds us of our total depravity that every part of us is tainted by sin, and apart from God’s sovereign grace, we would remain enslaved. Your inability to stop drinking on your own is not proof that you are beyond hope. It is proof that you need a Savior outside of yourself.

Romans 6:6 gives us hope: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”

This is where the good news enters: in Christ, you are not left to fight alone.

When you despair, asking “Why can’t I stop?”, Scripture doesn’t tell you to just try harder. It tells you to look upward to Christ, who has already won the victory over sin and death.

In John 8:36, Jesus promises: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” That freedom is not theoretical. It is real, purchased by His blood, secured by His resurrection, and applied to you through His Spirit.

Here’s what that means practically:

• You are not defined by your drinking. In Christ, you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your sin may describe you, but it does not define you.
• You are not left to fight alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer, giving you power that you do not have on your own.
• You are not abandoned in your failures. God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The faith-based answer is not “do better,” but “believe and abide.” True recovery is not about modifying your behavior; it’s about being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).

Theology must always lead to practice. Here are steps rooted in God’s Word that can help you walk out of the cycle of drinking and into freedom:

Don’t hide your struggle. Pour it out in prayer. God already knows, and confession aligns your heart with His truth (1 John 1:9).

Replace lies (“I can’t change”) with God’s promises (“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” – Philippians 1:6). Daily, saturate your mind with the Word.

God designed the Christian life to be lived in community. Find a faithful church, a small group, or even one trusted believer who can walk with you. “Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

Pray not only when you feel strong, but especially when you feel weak. Ask God for strength in the moment of temptation (Matthew 26:41).

Drinking often represents running to comfort, escape, or false joy. Learn to run instead to Christ, who offers the true “living water” that satisfies the soul (John 4:14).

Sanctification is a process. You may stumble, but the trajectory is what matters. Don’t measure God’s faithfulness by today’s failures. He is shaping you for eternity.

If you are exhausted from trying and failing, take heart: your hope is not in your strength, but in Christ’s. Your story is not over. Your failures do not define your future.

When Paul cried out in Romans 7, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?”, the answer came immediately: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

That is your hope too. No program. Zero willpower. Not even your resolve. But Christ Himself.

So the next time you wonder, “Why do I keep drinking when I want to stop?”, remember this: because apart from Christ, sin reigns. But in Christ, grace abounds even more. And His grace is enough today, tomorrow, and for eternity.

If this struggle describes you, don’t walk away discouraged. Walk away with hope. God has not abandoned you. He calls you to Himself, to lay down your burden and receive His rest (Matthew 11:28–30).

At Faith Recovery Now, we’re here to walk with you in this journey not with shallow fixes, but with the unshakable truth of the gospel. Keep exploring these resources, dive into Scripture, and most importantly, cling to Christ.

You can also take a practical step today by using our SoberPath app to guide your faith-based recovery journey.

Your story can change, because your Savior lives.