Why Is Sobriety Trending?

I am excited to share with you a bit about an experience I've been walking through for six years but see trending constantly. I think it's important for us to look at this trend as Jesus followers. I'm a personal, professional coach on many levels, and I see this idea of #sobercurious, #dryjanuary and sober living in the speaking and podcasting arena. 

What Is Sober Curiousity?

I want to address these things based on my own personal experience of being alcohol-free for six years. I don't necessarily call what I do sobriety because I think sobriety stems from having a problem or an addiction to alcohol. If that's your prerogative, sobriety is a necessary and important title to embrace, accept, and live out. But for me, sobriety consists of walking in righteousness, in the ways of the Lord. Righteousness is walking in holiness, not from a religious standpoint. I haven't set a specific time frame on how long I'm not going to drink. So far, in six years, nothing has enticed me to set an end date to sobriety. 

One day, when my son was about five years old, he saw my downcast nature when I came home. He saw stress. He saw overwhelm. He saw the deep sighs. The cues that any five-year-old could see. And he said, "Don't worry, we'll get you a glass of wine." I remember thinking, those were the words I needed to hear in that exact moment. It hit me differently than anything else had. 

In the past, I was a wine rep. So giving up wine felt crazy. It didn't even make sense that I would give up wine and have cases of wine to sell. But I knew it was something the Lord was calling me to do. It wasn't because I was looking to change anything other than I wanting to be emotionally available to my children. My husband and I both had alcohol influence, and alcoholic experiences as we were being raised up. It was a generational past, and we didn't want that to be something that was going to affect our children. As Christians and Jesus followers, we are called into generational bondage breaking. About two days in, my husband said, "I see what you're doing. And I partner with you in that." We decided to partner in it, and find out what fruit would come of this. 

What Are the Benefits of Sober Curiousity?

So, let me share what sober curiosity could potentially lead you to. 

1.Physical and Mental Wellness

It could lead you to further relational dynamics and trust not only inside of your home but also with yourself. The self-reflection of being able to hear your thoughts and emotions and wrestle with those things. It's a physical benefit. Obviously, you're going to lose some calories. So that's a bonus. It also helps you sleep. I'm not doing this from a mental or a doctoral perspective, but from a place of the Lord's lead on my life, personally. I have witnessed the benefits based on the fruit that is provided to other people.

2. A Deeper Relationship with God

Avoiding drunkenness is following Scripture. Drunkenness is a sin in and of itself. Nowadays, because alcohol has become so normalized, it's not necessarily addressed as a sin. It seems everyone's doing it, going to the brewery on the weekend or adopting the common 'five o'clock somewhere' attitude. Society has normalized drinking. Even doctors prescribe a glass of wine a day.

Being of a sober mind is mentioned multiple times through the Bible and allows us to truly operate as Christ's kids. When I am sober-minded, I can hear from God so much more clearly. 

3. Allowing Fruits of the Spirit to Blossom in Your LIfe

Another element is the fruit of the spirit, which can be found in Galatians 5.22. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control.To witness someone with incredible self-discipline is inspiring, and it calls us higher, too! I believe our fruit isn't for us. The fruit we bear when we abide with Christ is for other people.

Is Sobriety a Smart Choice for You?

I've seen so many other families choose this route and forego this thing that was really just a societal mechanism of suppression. My question to you, if you're curious about this, is why do you turn to alcohol? What does it do for you? You'll often hear alcohol described as liquid courage, the thing that allows you to be the best or more vocal version of yourself, or more fun and lighthearted. But what if, in fact, it's just another mask? The version of yourself that you are intended to allow God to work on and prune, and the true courage that comes from Christ, is an opportunity that you might be avoiding by choosing something more comfortable and simple. And something that actually depresses, not necessarily the up good memory you want it to be.

Sobriety allows us to have a clear connection with God. Clear memories, connections, and intimacy. We get to embrace amazing new vulnerable experiences and emotional relationships with others. We develop emotional intelligence to understand that the reason, for example, we crave alcohol may be because we are sad, angry, overwhelmed or frustrated. Recognizing that emotion and being able to process it soberly is a sign of spiritual maturity. To be able to process our emotions and then choose a better option of managing them, which is choosing Christ. 

Jesus is the Living Water. He is the hydration. He is the living element that is needed for our body. We are created with the intention to be a representative of the very thing he calls us to: a fountain of life-giving water, not a drain, to quote one of my favorite Christian movies, "The Forge."

Spiritual readiness is also important. Remember the 10 women, the 10 bridesmaids with the lampstands from the Bible, and the five who let their oil run out and fell asleep. That is not the way I want to have my reunion with Christ. I want to be fully sober-minded and awake. I want to be spiritually ready, and I know he wants that for me. Another important quality that requires sober clarity to being watchful. We're called watchmen for a reason: to be on guard. The enemy is trying to kill, steal, and destroy and be like a lion on the prowl around us, if I'm not sober-minded, I don't have that spiritual readiness. I can't do a lot of things. It's a part of our calling as Christians is to aim to be physically and emotionally healthy. We are called to understand and deepen relationships. Being sober-minded promotes accountability with others to be able to call you into sobriety and align your actions with the faith. 

Sobriety has deepened my testimony in so many ways, allowing me to rely fully on God rather than on something that the world wants to offer. We are made to be in the world but not of the world. And if something is trending, I would encourage you to take a look at the why, but more so importantly, look at it through the lens of the Lord. I hope this is something that doesn't just trend for a month or a fasting window, but that can trend for eternity for you and yours. I am so expectant to see what it will do in your life. I can't wait to hear your testimonies.

I pray that this blesses you to get curious and ask questions. That's what Jesus did. And he's asking you right now, why do you run to that when I'm here waiting?

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