CWSA - Step #12CWSA - Step #12
Christians with Secret Addictions
Terry Hanna explains Step 12 of Christian recovery, focusing on spiritual awakening, sharing the message of hope, and practising biblical principles in daily life. The episode highlights personal experience, scripture, and Christ-centred support as the basis for lasting freedom from addiction.
12:22•13 Aug 2026
Step 12: Spiritual Awakening, Freedom and Sharing the Message
Episode Overview
- A lasting spiritual awakening comes from applying the 12 spiritual principles daily rather than treating them like homework.
- Those who have experienced addiction and recovery are uniquely positioned to carry a message of hope to suffering addicts.
- Honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, community involvement, and reliance on God are described as core foundations for recovery.
- Practising the steps "in all our affairs" means continually revisiting confession, inventory, and amends as life challenges arise.
- Recovery is presented as a partnership with Jesus Christ, "the solid rock", replacing destructive addictions with spiritual fruits of redemption and stability.
“"If you do what we do, you'll be able to claim, 'I'm free at last. Thank you, God, I'm free at last.'"”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of *Christians with Secret Addictions* focuses on Step 12 and how a spiritual awakening leads to sharing hope with others and living recovery in everyday life. Host Terry Hanna speaks frankly about his own experience, describing how he once treated the 12 steps like homework and kept relapsing: "Only until I ingested these 12 spiritual principles like food for my soul...
did I achieve recovery, healing, and a spiritual awakening." That awakening, he explains, comes from applying the steps daily and grounding life in Jesus Christ and scripture. You’ll hear Terry break Step 12 into three clear parts. First, he talks about "having had a spiritual awakening" and how the Bible, especially passages like 2 Timothy 3:16, shapes the 12 spiritual principles he follows.
He stresses that recovery is more than fixing one affliction; it’s a complete shift into a new life with God at the centre. Second, he focuses on "carrying the message" to others who are suffering. Terry insists there’s "no one better qualified to help than someone that's been where you are", sharing the obsession, shame, and pain of addiction, and now the freedom found through Christ.
The phrase "It works if you work it" becomes a challenge to practise honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, community, and reliance on God. Third, Terry explains what it means to "practise these principles in all our affairs". Recovery isn’t a one-off moment but an ongoing partnership with God and others, revisiting steps like admitting powerlessness and making amends when life gets messy.
He reminds listeners of Jesus’ words, "For apart from me, you can do nothing," and ties this to living on "Christ the solid rock" instead of sinking back into addiction. The episode also references the testimony of Terry’s friend Bob Seal, whose story around 9/11 reflects personal miracles and God’s intervention. Together, these messages invite anyone wrestling with addiction to seek spiritual grounding, community support, and a life built on a firmer foundation.
If you’re longing for freedom and wondering what a Christ-centred recovery path could look like, could Step 12 be your next step?
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