Celebrate Recovery Step 5 | How to Take Step 5 in Recovery

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Celebrate Recovery Step 5 is one of the steps that you will take as you walk through a 12-step recovery program. Two of the 12-step recovery programs are Celebrate Recovery (CR) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). In each, you will have a “step 5,” but we’ll look at CR here.

As you start looking at the two 12-step recovery programs, you’ll notice a few differences. CR is based on the Bible. Celebrate Recovery has 8 principles based on the Beatitudes that are found in the Bible in Matthew 5.

If you are new to recovery, read Celebrate Recovery Step One! If you’re continuing this journey and want to review Step 4, please read Celebrate Recovery Step Four.

As you walk through Celebrate Recovery Step 5, you will be humbled. It takes a lot of humility to admit the times when you are wrong, even if it is just a confession of something that happened in the past.

If you feel intimidated, you’re not alone. Celebrate Recovery Step 5 can give you freedom, so read the valuable resources, guidance, and advice in this article.

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What is Celebrate Recovery Step 5?

Celebrate Recovery Step 5 states: We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Celebrate Recovery Step 5 corresponds with Celebrate Recovery Principle 4 of the 8 Celebrate Recovery Principles.

It can be difficult to understand the difference between the 12 steps and the 8 principles of recovery. The 12 steps are what we are going over in this article, specifically, Celebrate Recovery Step 5. The 8 principles are based on the Bible (see above article).

Celebrate Recovery Principle 4 states: Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. The Bible verse that goes with it is Matthew 5:8, which says, “Happy are the pure in heart.”

If you’re new to Celebrate Recovery, check out this article for more details on what CR is about – What is Celebrate Recovery? Keep in mind that Celebrate Recovery is for everyone; after all, everyone has hurts, habits, and hang-ups – even you!

The 12 steps in Celebrate Recovery (CR) are the same as those in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The main difference between the two programs is CR is Biblically based. Celebrate Recovery is centered around Jesus Christ. This subject is covered in Celebrate Recovery Step 3!

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. – James 5:16

What Does “Celebrate Recovery Step 5” Mean?

In Celebrate Recovery step 5, there can be many challenges as you confess all of what you have written to someone else. Sometimes, speaking to God about your wrongs can be daunting and even overwhelming. It does not have to be this way. Just be humble and tell Him all.

Is your head still spinning from all the steps, principles, and other numbers in CR? Check out the FREE printable called Celebrate Recovery Numbers. This will break it down for you.

Celebrate Recovery Step 5 is about confessing and admitting your wrongdoings. This can lead to a lot of apprehension. Trust God during this part, and check out these applicable lessons for even more tips for success (CR Lesson 12 and CR Lesson 13).

With each of the above lessons, you will find a FREE Celebrate Recovery resource – a free study guide to lead you on your road to recovery or a free printable in another avenue that you will use in your recovery. Use any and all of these resources to achieve success!

Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed. God is right here with you!!

How to Achieve Celebrate Recovery Step 5

In no particular order, the following tips will help you in achieving Celebrate Recovery step 5, which covers how and why we need to confess our sins and admit them to another trustworthy individual. Let’s step outside of denial and get started!

#1. Examine your pain.

Let’s face it. No one enjoys pain – emotional, spiritual, mental, or physical. It just isn’t fun to suffer or relive the days when you were in pain. However, if you face the pain and the things that caused it, you can be liberated! Imagine letting all of that go! What a relief!

As we discuss admitting wrongs to our Creator and confessing our sins to another person, keep in mind the benefits you can have by just letting out all of the pain you feel inside. That’s what’s great about Celebrate Recovery step 5 – You are able to have less spiritual pain!

While it’s true that hurts from the past will not disappear for good, you can expect a big sigh of relief when you let all those worries be known to an accountability partner or sponsor. If you have repressed pain or tried to let it go, it might no longer be in the forefront of your mind.

That is normal! So, how will you examine your pain if you do not know what it is? If you have hurts, habits, or hang-ups that are preventing you from moving forward, you need to know how to figure out what that pain is. Let’s dive in a bit on this topic.

How to Determine What Is Causing the Pain

Consider asking yourself the following questions as you determine where and how it hurts.

Where would you like Jesus to intervene in your life?
What hurts would you like Jesus to take away?
How are you suffering right now?
In what ways do you need to be saved?
What discourages you?
Are you experiencing guilt about something?
Where do you need courage in your life?
What is weighing you down? What burdens do you have?

If those questions did not prompt a revelation, consider the following issues or problem areas where many people struggle. Some might be positive areas of your life – areas that have the potential to become burdens. Think about each one and what kind of problems you are facing.

Marriage
Anger
Depression
Broken relationships
Stealing
Selfishness
Gossip
Pride
Addiction of Any Kind
Procrastination
Laziness
Money
Pornography
Slander
Having a Negative Attitude
Your Job
Drugs
Alcohol
Anxiety
Cursing
Sex

As you read this list of potential problem areas, you might think of many things that you are struggling with that are not listed. This is not an all-inclusive list! If you think of things not listed, consider them as your problem area – the place you need Jesus to intervene.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

#2. Avoid the blame game.

Putting the blame in someone else’s lap can be almost comforting because it is no longer on your lap! However, we must be accountable for the wrongs we have done.

Releasing the blame and realizing your part will greatly help your road to recovery, especially the peace you feel.

It’s hard to achieve serenity when you have built up pain, blame, resentment, and/or anger. Consider releasing those feelings. Turn them over to God! Letting them go or coming to terms with these items can lead to peace, patience, and a sense of calm.

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. – Proverbs 28:13 (ESV)

#3. Own it.

This tip goes hand in hand with the last one. As you stop blaming others, realize that it is time to look at your part in it all. Are you completely innocent? Was the incident partly due to you?

Once you have realized your part in the hurt, you can begin to move on. The situation might call for you to forgive the individual in person. That can be tough. It’s hard confessing where we have done wrong, especially to the person we have wronged.

Start small. Speak to your accountability partner or sponsor to determine how to go about doing this. Remember, it is usually not a good idea to admit your wrongs to someone when that admission will cause more harm than good. The articles on your Moral Inventory address this.

Always remember that in the case of abuse, special provisions apply. Please contact your local Celebrate Recovery leader for more information.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

#4. Accept forgiveness.

If you have confessed your sins to the person you have wronged, they might offer you forgiveness.

You can also receive forgiveness through the Lord. Admit your wrongs, repent of them, and be ready to move on. Repentance means to turn away from sin and to no longer do it.

Repent, therefore, and turn back that your sins may be blotted out. – Acts 3:19 (ESV)

#5. Express your true feelings.

If you are following the steps of recovery – whether through AA or Celebrate Recovery, you will likely go through a variety of feelings and emotions. You might have a deep sense of regret or anger that you are having trouble letting go of.

Perhaps you suffer from severe anxiety or depression. Many people experience things in recovery that they did not expect. It is normal to have unexpected feelings, so let them out. Give them a chance to be expressed and completely felt in a new environment – the NEW you!

Remember, once you’ve gotten through this difficult step, you will ease all of the guilt you are experiencing. That alone is a benefit worth considering! Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up feeling a new sense of freedom and a wonderful sense of peace?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

#6. Obey God’s directions.

Throughout any of the lessons that have been presented on this website, you will find practical applications. As you walk through each step in the recovery process, you will likely receive prompts from God about what you need to do. Do not ignore this!

Listening to God and knowing how to do what He suggests are critical aspects of this life! He might speak to you through a subconscious nudging or a stirring of your heart. Additionally, He might convey what you need to do next through another person or in His Word – the Bible!

If you do not currently have a relationship with God, start small. Work on building your spiritual life over time. Begin by going to church, opening your Bible, or saying the Serenity Prayer. Speak to a Christian about what you are experiencing and where you need guidance.

When the Lord prompts you to do something, be sure to make a note of it. If it seems like too big of a task to tackle on your own, remember that you have a mighty Savior on your side, and with Him, you can accomplish anything!

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

#7. Admit your shortcomings.

It’s important to connect with a trusted accountability partner or sponsor so that you can confess where you have gone wrong and no longer be burdened by your wrongs. Read the following articles, as they are geared to help you make solid connections.

As you work toward finding good friends, be sure that you are also being a good friend, and look for people who are very trustworthy and reliable. If someone is not a good fit, find someone else. Do not allow one bad experience with one individual to halt your progress in recovery.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

Are You New to Being a Christian?

If being a Christian is a new thing for you, you are not alone! Many people in recovery experience a longing for a Higher Power (God) or are, at a minimum, curious about Him. So, how can you get started when you do not even know where to begin?

Start by reading and studying the Bible. The Bible is God’s way to speak to us. Through His Word, you can find guidance and comfort. Consider trying to do a simple Bible study or begin by starting a Bible reading plan. Another great connection point is found in pray er!

Prayer is your time to speak what is on your heart to God. Let it out. He already knows what you are going through. Nothing you say will shock Him because God is all-knowing. As you express newfound emotions and talk about your feelings with our Creator, you will gain peace.

In the Faith section of Sharing Life and Love, we have many great resources geared toward those who are new to faith! You can also start your walk with the Lord by doing a Bible study written by this content creator – How to Have a Quiet Time with God.

For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

More Tips for Celebrate Recovery Step 5

It’s a great idea to use multiple suggestions to achieve Celebrate Recovery Step 5. If one of these tips does not work for you, try a different one!

We’ve mentioned several ways to connect with others. If you have never been to a Celebrate Recovery meeting, consider doing that! It is a great way to meet like-minded, non-judgmental people. Check out the 30 benefits of going to a meeting!
Build your relationship with God! Your eternal life should be what matters most!
To truly thrive in your recovery, consider joining a Celebrate Recovery Step Study! While CR meetings will get you started and are great first steps, a step study is where you grow and bond with other individuals for life.
One way God speaks to us is through the Holy Spirit. How can the Spirit put Bible verses on your heart? One way requires you to memorize scripture! Consider starting with some easy verses, such as John 3:16, Mark 10:27, or Joshua 1:9.
Memorize the Serenity Prayer for a sense of peace in any circumstance!
Keep going back to Celebrate Recovery! As it’s frequently said, it works if you work it – and you are worth it!

Grab the Celebrate Recovery Study Guide Book 3 for additional information on Celebrate Recovery step 5!

Bonus Celebrate Recovery Step 5 Resources

These additional Celebrate Recovery Step 5 resources should help you achieve success while doing this critical step in recovery!

A Celebrate Recovery Step 5 Video

Celebrate Recovery Step 5 Video

Celebrate Recovery Step 5 Resources

The Celebrate Recovery NIV Study Bible is a wonderful thing to have on hand when you are facing difficulty. It is perfect for recovery!!
The Celebrate Recovery 365 Devotional Book is a great resource that can help you jumpstart your spiritual walk or road to recovery!
The Celebrate Recovery Blog Series – In our many Celebrate Recovery articles, you’ll see how to accomplish the lessons and learn how to walk the road to recovery.
Many of our Celebrate Recovery articles have free worksheets and study guides that you can grab in the Shop. Read the first article – What is Celebrate Recovery?
If you have not purchased the third study guide in Celebrate Recovery, be sure to grab it for even more questions and materials that you will want to have on hand.

Conclusion

You now know how to take step 5 in recovery. Celebrate Recovery Step 5 helps you admit your wrongdoings and confess them. It is all about getting your moral inventory out in the open (within certain parameters).

If you need more detailed instructions on how to accomplish lessons 12 or 13 of Celebrate Recovery, be sure to follow the provided links in this article. Our CR articles have many lessons, free study guides, and free worksheets that relate to Celebrate Recovery Step 5!

If you have admitted your faults and confessed them, please leave a comment! We’d love to hear how it went! Don’t forget to keep working the 12 steps. Trust the process and trust God, and you will see success!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6