This weekend, we’re diving deep into Lesson One of the Celebrate Recovery curriculum—Denial. This is where freedom begins. This is where we stop pretending and start healing.
Principle One of Celebrate Recovery says:
"Realize I’m not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable."
Denial keeps us trapped. It convinces us that we’re in control, even when we’re not. It tells us that if we just try harder, manage better, or keep certain struggles hidden, we can fix ourselves. But denial isn’t protecting us—it’s destroying us.
In Part One of this two-part episode, we’ll explore:
- What denial really is and how it keeps us stuck.
- The first three consequences of denial:
- A deeply personal story about the exhaustion of living in denial and how stepping into truth changed everything.
- Why admitting powerlessness is the first step toward healing.
- A biblical perspective on breaking free from denial.
If you’ve ever told yourself you’re “fine” when you’re not, if you’ve been carrying a secret struggle, or if you’re just plain exhausted from trying to hold it all together—this episode is for you.
What You’ll Learn
- How denial keeps us trapped in unhealthy patterns.
- How much energy it takes to maintain a double life—and why breaking free is worth it.
- Why ignoring a problem doesn’t make it disappear—it only makes it grow in the dark.
- The power of surrendering control and stepping into God’s grace.
- Why Jesus doesn’t condemn us for our struggles—He invites us into freedom.
Scriptures Referenced
- Matthew 5:3 (NLT)
- Jeremiah 6:14 (NLT)
- Psalm 146:7-8 (NLT)
- Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
- Psalm 107:13-14 (NLT)
- 1 John chapter 4:18 (NLT)
Key Takeaways
- Denial doesn’t protect us—it destroys us.
- The longer we stay in denial, the more exhausted we become.
- Pretending we’re fine doesn’t make our struggles disappear—it just isolates us from real healing.
- God doesn’t expect us to fix ourselves—He invites us to surrender and trust Him.
- The first step toward freedom is admitting we need help.
Get Involved
Christ-Centered Step Studies
- Women’s Group – Sundays, starting February 23rd, 6:00–7:30 PM at Peters Creek Baptist Church.
- Men’s Group – Thursdays, starting February 27th, 7:00–8:30 PM at Peters Creek Baptist Church.
- Register by emailing info@pcbc.church or calling 412-833-6111.
Sunday Worship at Peters Creek Baptist Church
- 8:15 AM and 10:45 AM (second service streamed live on YouTube).
- Visit pcbc.church for more details.
Engage with Us
- Follow & Subscribe: Find Our True Identity at the Celebrate Recovery @ Peters Creek Baptist Church show page on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
- Share & Review: If this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave a review! Your support helps spread the message of hope and healing.
Next Episode
Join us tomorrow for Part Two of Denial, where we’ll explore:
- I – Isolates Us from God
- A – Alienates Us from Others
- L – Lengthens Our Pain
If you’re ready to break free from isolation and take a step toward healing, don’t miss tomorrow’s episode.
