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What if freedom costs more than an apology?

In this gut-wrenching episode of Rooted & Recovered, Dan and Justin unpack Step Nine of the 12-Step journey:
“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”

This is where recovery gets real. It’s no longer about admitting the damage—it’s about repairing it. Step Nine isn’t just about saying “I’m sorry.” It’s about stepping into holy ground with trembling hands, a repentant heart, and the bold humility to say, “I broke it… now I want to help make it right.”

This episode will challenge everything in you that still wants to hide, justify, or forget. But healing won’t let you skip this step. Because making amends isn’t about control—it’s about character.

Key Highlights:

• Why apologies soothe guilt but amends restore dignity
• The difference between seeking closure and walking in freedom
• Why you may be rejected—and why it still matters
• Jacob and Esau: A story of bold return and unexpected grace (Genesis 32–33)
• What it means to stop running and finally face it

Scriptures Covered:
Romans 12:18 • Genesis 32–33 • Matthew 5:23-24 • 2 Corinthians 5:17

Final Truth:
Making amends isn’t about rewriting the past—it’s about proving it no longer owns you. The world may remember who you were, but grace declares who you are now. Show up not for a perfect response, but for holy obedience. Because when grace leads, guilt doesn’t get the final word.

Pray for courage. Share with someone who’s ready to stop hiding. Tag a brother or sister walking through Step Nine and remind them: you’re not alone in this.

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What if your freedom starts with a name?

In this deeply challenging episode of Rooted & Recovered, Dan and Justin walk through Step Eight of the 12-Step journey: “Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”

This is the step where recovery shifts from just cleaning the inside to addressing the damage on the outside. It’s about taking ownership, facing the people you’ve hurt, and finally breaking the silence that’s been weighing you down. Real freedom demands real honesty, and this episode will push you to name the names you’ve buried, confront the wounds you’ve caused, and prepare for the kind of restoration that sets you free.

Key Highlights:

• Recovery isn’t just about what happened to you—it’s about what happened because of you
• Making a list isn’t about guilt—it’s about grace on paper
• Real change demands real ownership
• Why some people may never forgive you, and why that’s okay
• Zacchaeus and the power of radical ownership (Luke 19:1-10)

Scriptures Covered:
Matthew 5:23-24 • 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 • Luke 19:1-10

Final Truth:
Your story isn’t just about you. It’s about the people you’ve impacted, the lives you’ve touched, and the healing you’re willing to walk back into. You’re not just writing names—you’re writing the first lines of restoration.

Pray for this episode to reach someone who’s ready to step into real freedom. Like, share, and tag a friend who needs this message today.

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What if the very thing you're clinging to is the thing that’s controlling you?

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Rooted & Recovered, Dan and Justin walk through Step Seven of the 12-Step journey: “We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

This is the line in the sand, the moment where faith gets real. It’s not about just asking God to help—you’re asking Him to take it for real. This is the step where you stop bargaining and start breaking free, where survival strategies are replaced with true surrender, and where the posture of humility unlocks real transformation.

Key Highlights:

• What you cling to is what controls you
• Control is a prison disguised as protection
• Humility isn’t a feeling—it’s a choice to let go
• Why some people choose to limp through life instead of walking in freedom
• Paul’s thorn and the power of God’s sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• Why healing doesn’t start when the pain goes away, but when control does

Scriptures Covered:
1 Peter 5:6-7 • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 • Isaiah 6:5-8 • Romans 12:2 • Matthew 11:28-30

Final Truth:
Real freedom begins when you stop managing the chaos and let go for real. It’s not about earning your healing—it’s about trusting that God is already enough.

Pray for this episode to reach someone who’s ready to surrender for real. Like, share, and tag a friend who needs this message today.