Written by Jeremy Mitchell, Executive Director, His Way Recovery Center of Georgia
I didn’t wake up one day and decide, “I want to serve.” Truth is, I believe the call to serve was always inside me—woven into the fabric of who we are as people created by God. Philippians 2 reminds us not to look only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. Even the world of recovery—whether spiritual or secular—teaches this truth: you can’t keep what you have unless you give it away.
Looking back, I think the spirit of service was planted in me as early as 18. I remember riding back from a college recruiting trip, telling my dad, “I think I want to help people for a living.” That wasn’t a mission statement, it was just the most honest thing I could say at the time. I didn’t know what that would look like. I just knew it felt right.
The Shift from Self to Others
One of the biggest transformations that service has brought into my recovery journey is the shift from focusing on myself to focusing on others. People laugh when I say this, but it’s true.
I’ve been so busy trying to help everyone else with their chaos that I don’t have time to create my own.
And that’s a blessing! That shift enlarges the “island” I live on. Until your life becomes big enough to hold other people, you’ll stay stranded and alone.
The more I began to serve, the more I began to care. And when you care, you think differently. You make decisions differently. I found that love and service created a new layer of spiritual accountability in me because now my choices didn’t just affect me, they affected people I love. That changed everything.
Serving When I Don’t Feel Qualified
Let me be honest with you: I rarely feel qualified to serve. But that’s the beauty of it. 1 Corinthians 1 tells us that God chooses the things that are not to nullify the things that are. So, I don’t worry about whether I’m good enough. I just say yes.
I learned this lesson while reading about Moses in Exodus 4. When God called him to lead, Moses had excuse after excuse. Finally, he just said, “Lord, please send someone else.” And the next verse says, “God’s anger burned against Moses.” That verse scared me. I decided that day: If someone I recognize to be by brother or sister in Christ asks me to serve in God’s name, I’m saying yes—no matter how uncomfortable or unqualified I feel.
And guess what? Most of the opportunities I’ve had to serve started out uncomfortable. But those were also the ones that brought the most growth.
The Recycling Principle of Grace
There’s a principle I see all throughout God’s creation: everything healthy must flow. Rain falls, evaporates, condenses, and falls again. It’s a cycle. But if the rain stagnates in a pool, it spoils. It becomes toxic. And if someone drinks it, they get sick.
God’s blessings are the same way. If what God gives us stays bottled up inside, it spoils. It was never meant to be hoarded. It was meant to be shared. Service keeps what’s inside of us fresh. Giving it away is the only way to keep it.
Service as a Lifestyle, not a Project
Service isn’t just something I do. It’s part of who I am. It’s part of what it means to be in God’s family. Just like I had chores in my family growing up—mowing the lawn, cleaning my room—there are responsibilities in God’s family too. It’s not about earning anything. It’s about participating in the life you’ve been given.
But if you really want to grow, let me tell you something: random acts of service are great, but consistent, committed service creates accountability. Teaching a class every Sunday. Driving a van every week. Feeding the homeless every Saturday. Those things grow you because people start to expect you to show up—and in that expectation, God shapes you.
Start Small. Start Now.
If you’re new in recovery and feel like you’ve got nothing to give, hear me: do something. It doesn’t have to be big. Say hello to someone. Shake their hand. Look them in the eye and ask how they’re doing. Smile. Be present. That’s service.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. It was built one stone at a time. You can change the world the same way.
One thing I recommend—and it’s simple but powerful—is to pray every day and thank God for three ways He’s blessing other people. Then write down three small ways you served someone that day. You’ll find yourself watching more closely for opportunities to give. You’ll train your heart to serve.
Final Thought: This Is Life
Some folks call what I do a “life of service.” I call it living. I don’t serve for a pat on the back. I serve because I want to be part of something bigger than myself. That’s what Jesus did. That’s what I want to do too.
Recovery isn’t just about quitting something—it’s about becoming something. And becoming who God created you to be will always involve serving others. Because that’s the life Jesus lived. And it’s the life that leads to joy, freedom, and faith that grows stronger every day.
Ready to Serve?
If something in this story stirred your heart and left you wondering how to serve, where to start, or what it looks like to live a life that gives back, we’d love to walk with you! Whether you’re early in your recovery journey or just looking for ways to grow in faith through service, we’re here to help you find your place.
Reach out to us today. Let’s discover together how God might be calling you to serve.