The Power of Lived Experience
And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.”
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
- Matthew 13:11-17
A brief interpretation of this text indicates that the disciples had faith in Christ, therefore having discernment of the Spirit. They can both see and hear the truth. Theologian “Barclay” states it this way; “It reveals truth to him who desires truth; it conceals truth from him who does not wish to see the truth.” The natural man or worldly folk cannot understand the things of the Spirit and therefore the truth is concealed from him.
The idea is that for those who are open to the truth, more can be given to them, and those who are not open, things will be taken away and are without understanding.
We go on to understand that if we have faith in Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit, and therefore, we have the capacity to see, hear and understand. With this gift of understanding comes the capacity for more responsibility. On the flip side, if we are the natural man the Pharisee of the world with no belief in Christ, it will not be ours to see or hear or understand. The interesting part about this is that the natural man and all his pride thinks he does see, hears, and knows!
The mystery of this text captivated me in a deep reflection on this Godly principle that corresponds to a powerful tool used in addiction and recovery counseling called ‘Lived Experience’.
Lived experience is a powerful tool when it comes to helping those suffering from addiction. In addition to this powerful tool we believe that, “lived experience is the Ph.D. of addiction counseling.” Lived experience can be compared to knowing the truth and receiving the spirit of healing. A person of lived experience can see and hear the truth, positioning them in authority to bring the light of the gospel to the darkness of addiction.
The idea is that a person or family member who has been exposed to the sufferings or actually have suffered from addiction themselves can see and hear and understand in truth the reality of the sufferings from addiction. This reality places them in a position of trust, therefore, able to help and comfort those experiencing the same sufferings of addiction. This foundational honor of lived experience inherits one with authenticity of voice and knowledge soaked in the truth from the university of Christ enabling them to bring hope and healing to the suffering.
I often remind people that the affliction of my addiction was the best thing to happen in my life, because it was the very tool that Christ used to save me. Because of this, I can now minister to others in addiction through lived experience. Our friends who are currently going through addiction will trust and relate better to someone who has lived experience more so than a qualified addiction counselor without the sufferings in their resume.
We look to scripture in 2 Corinthians 1, which exhorts that we journey through trials in order to minister comfort and to counsel our friends that are currently facing the same trials and sufferings. Our role is to bring the comfort of lived experience that the Lord has supplied as one of our gifts. This gift is the powerful tool that will bring hope and healing to our friends currently suffering from addiction.
Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. - 2 Corinthians 1:6-7
To our friends who have come from lived experience of addiction, it is given to them to truly see and to truly hear, and as a result are implanted with the wisdom and knowledge to help and counsel those who are in the sufferings from the position of the love of Christ.
I think of Jeannine Lisitski and Karen Wilson, the leaders of TTR’s women’s family support group, who have experienced this first hand with their husbands (Glenn Wilson and John Carlson) who have suffered from addiction. This relationship translates to their lived experience that will guide the ladies who attend the women’s group towards hope and healing. I think of the TTR New Life Recovery Meeting in which most of the attendees have experienced the Affliction of addiction, so that we can bring that authentic voice of help to others who attend the Friday night meeting. Friends, this is why the fellowship and meetings are so important. To share our comfort built from lived experience while bringing the light of the Gospel to the darkness of addiction.
So, I conclude with this verse: If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. - John 8:36
John Carlson
Executive Director, Transformation to Recovery