The Holy Spirit, who convicts us and changes our lives – Bill and George

The Holy Spirit, who convicts us and changes our lives – Bill and George

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? Real Recovery brings you Bill Arnold and George P. Fraser unpacking addiction, faith, and the Holy Spirit with their trademark mix of humour, honesty, and straight talk. You’ll hear George share how the 12 steps moved from something he "worked" to something he "lives", explaining that the steps mainly deflate ego so that the Holy Spirit can fill a person and reshape their desires.

Step One — admitting powerlessness and unmanageability — is framed as the doorway to letting God into both heart and mind, and the word "we" points to church, Bible study, and recovery groups as a three-legged stool that can’t stand if one leg is missing. A big theme is community and belonging.

Bill notes that many people slide into addiction because they feel they have nowhere they fit, while George recalls turning up to early recovery meetings convinced that life would never be fun again. It changed when he met a group of sober men he respected, who were genuinely glad he’d shown up. Their care kept him coming back, even when he relapsed.

As he puts it, "Just because you mess up, don’t give up." Bill weaves Psalm 62 through the conversation, highlighting David’s reminder that life is short, circumstances are hard, and God can sometimes feel distant — all common starting points for addiction. Yet the psalm insists that "power belongs to God" and calls people to wait in silence, pour out their hearts to him, and trust that he is a rock, a fortress, and a refuge.

If you’re tired, ashamed, or convinced you’ve "really done it this time", this conversation gently points you back to God’s steady love, the convicting and comforting work of the Holy Spirit, and the kind of community where you don’t have to pretend you’re okay. Could this be the reminder you need to reach out for help and try again?