Filling Up What Is Lacking: Colossians 1:24–28 and the Sacred Stewardship of Recovery

Filling Up What Is Lacking: Colossians 1:24–28 and the Sacred Stewardship of Recovery

A Reflection for the Alcoholic Who Suffers with Purpose

Scripture Context

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.”
— Colossians 1:24

Paul’s words are jarring. He rejoices in suffering—not because he enjoys pain, but because he sees it as participation in something larger. For those of us in recovery, this passage reframes our wounds as witness, our pain as purpose.

1. Suffering as Sacred Participation

Paul doesn’t glamorize suffering—he redeems it. In AA, we don’t celebrate our rock bottoms, but we do honour them. Why? Because they become the soil where empathy grows. The newcomer doesn’t need a lecture—they need someone who’s been there.

Recovery Insight:
Our suffering isn’t wasted. It becomes the bridge between isolation and belonging. We suffer with purpose—so others don’t have to suffer alone.

2. Stewardship of the Mystery

“I became its servant according to God’s commission... to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages...” (v.25–26)

Paul sees himself as a steward of mystery. In recovery, we too become stewards—not of doctrine, but of experience. We carry the message, not because we’ve mastered it, but because we’ve lived it.

Recovery Insight:
Sobriety is a mystery. Why do some get it and others don’t? Why does one meeting change a life? We don’t always know. But we show up anyway. We serve the mystery.

3. Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

“...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (v.27)

This is the heart of it. Not Christ above you. Not Christ beside you. Christ in you. For the alcoholic, this is revolutionary. We who once felt hollow now carry glory. We who once drank to fill a void now discover that the void was already filled.

Recovery Insight:
You are not empty. You are not broken beyond repair. Christ in you is the hope of glory—and the hope of sobriety.

4. Proclaiming with Wisdom and Warning

“It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom...” (v.28)

Paul doesn’t just preach—he warns. In AA, we do the same. We share our stories not to boast, but to caution. We say, “This is what happened when I stopped listening.” And we say it with love.

Recovery Insight:
Every share is both a testimony and a warning. We don’t sugarcoat the past—but we don’t stay stuck in it either. We proclaim hope, with wisdom born of wounds.

Closing Reflection

Colossians 1:24–28 is a recovery manifesto. It reminds us that suffering can be sacred, that mystery can be stewarded, and that Christ lives not in the perfect—but in the persevering. If you’re reading this and still struggling, know this: your pain has purpose. Your story has power. And your sobriety is not just for you—it’s for the body.

A strong advocate for freedom, limited government, and enterprise-driven progress, Jason also draws deeply from his personal recovery journey—an experience that reshaped his life and fuels his commitment to growth, contribution, and principled living. Through writing, speaking, and service, he continues to learn, share, and speak with purpose.

I can be engaged (on a remunerated or volunteer basis) to sit on Boards, Committees, Advisory and Reference Group Panels, and to speak to Business, Community, and Youth groups. I’m also open to providing comment to media on topics where I have relevant experience or insight. Please feel free to make contact.