Relapse can leave you crushed. You may feel ashamed, unworthy, and convinced that God has finally given up on you. The question presses on your heart: “Does God still love me after my relapses?”
The answer, rooted in Scripture and the doctrines of grace, is yes. God’s love does not rest on your strength to stay sober, but on His unchanging covenant promises in Christ.
Why Relapse Feels Like the End
The Weight of Guilt
Each relapse feels heavier than the last. Shame whispers: “You’re beyond forgiveness. God must be done with you.” But that voice is not from the Lord it is the accuser speaking lies (Revelation 12:10).
The False Gospel of Performance
Many think God loves them more when they succeed and less when they fail. But that is not the gospel of grace. Calvin reminds us that salvation is by God’s sovereign choice, not by our merit or moral record.
The Truth of God’s Unchanging Love
Election Means Security
Ephesians 1 teaches that before the foundation of the world, God chose His people in Christ. If He set His love on you from eternity, your relapse cannot cancel His decree. His love is steadfast, not fragile.
Christ’s Atonement Is Sufficient
On the cross, Jesus bore every sin including your relapses. When He cried, “It is finished,” He meant all of it. You cannot out-sin the blood of Christ.
Sanctification Is a Process
Sobriety is not an instant transformation but a lifelong journey. Calvinist theology reminds us that sanctification is gradual. God is patient, shaping you over time, and He will finish the work He began (Philippians 1:6).
How to Find Hope After a Relapse
Remember the Gospel Daily
Your identity is not “addict” or “failure.” It is “child of God,” justified by faith alone in Christ alone. Preach this truth to yourself every day.
Pray Honestly to Your Father
God does not despise a broken spirit (Psalm 51:17). Pour out your heart, confess your sin, and ask Him for strength. Prayer isn’t about proving your worth it’s about clinging to His mercy.
Rely on the Means of Grace
The Word, prayer, and fellowship with believers are not optional extras they are the channels through which God strengthens your faith. Don’t isolate. Run to the body of Christ for encouragement and accountability.
Does God Still Love Me After My Relapses?
Yes. His love is not fragile like yours. It is eternal, sovereign, and sealed in Christ. Relapse may wound your walk, but it cannot sever you from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38–39).
So take heart, weary sinner. Pray. Repent. Rise again. The God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. Sobriety is possible not because you are strong, but because He is faithful.