Idols Are Not Always Bad Things

Idols Are Not Always Bad Things

Curious about how others turn their healing journey into a deeper walk of faith? This episode of The REBOOT Recovery Show finds Evan Owens unpacking why "idols are not always bad things" and how even good gifts can quietly take God's place in our lives.

Evan anchors the conversation in the story of the rich young ruler from Matthew 19, calling it "one of the most tragic stories in all of scripture." The man ticks off every commandment, yet walks away sad when Jesus says, "Go and sell all your possessions," choosing wealth over a life with Christ. Evan links this to modern "little g gods"—comfort, success, health, relationships, even our own healing—that we may love just a bit too much.

He walks through the first commandments in Exodus 20 and then shifts to Jesus’ summary in Mark 12 and Deuteronomy 6: loving God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. Each word gets broken down in practical terms: cardia (heart) as will and desire, psyche (soul) as every breath, dianoia (mind) as intellect and reflection, and iscus (strength) as energy and resources.

It’s both encouraging and a bit confronting, especially when he asks whether we’ve made progress in healing a condition of our obedience: are we only in as long as life keeps improving?

One memorable line sums up his approach: "Pray like it all depends on God, but fight like it all depends on you." Evan reminds those facing trauma, chronic pain, or long-term struggle that life often feels like Israel’s 40-year desert—delivered, but not yet home—and that trusting God above all idols, even the idol of healing, is central to that journey. Anyone juggling faith, mental health, and recovery will find this a honest, scripture-rich reset.

So what might you be holding tighter than God, and are you ready to lay it down?