Quitting an addiction often leaves a void in what we do to occupy our time. Some people trade one addiction for another. Others find a hobby. Sadly, there are some who don't know how to fill the time void and end up relapsing.

Fill the time void with the Holy Spirit coming to you as you read and hear God's Word along with receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion on a regular basis. The blessings of being in God's Word on a daily basis are tremendous!

Had Christ not risen again from the dead, we would have reason to cling to the guilt and shame we feel about the hurt we caused with our addiction. Thanks be to God Christ did rise again from the dead! We are not dead in our sins. Christ's resurrection from the dead proves our salvation from sin, allowing us to let go of our guilt and shame and cling to the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins we have in Christ.

Do you remember your rock-bottom? Have you watched someone else hit rock-bottom because of addiction? Did you feel hopelessness and despair?

After watching their teacher suffer and die on the cross, it isn't hard to imagine Jesus' disciples possibly having feelings of hopelessness and despair over the events that transpired between Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane and his crucifixion. Soon enough, their hopelessness would turn into joy. Jesus rose again from the dead just as he said he would.

Because of Jesus' resurrection, we don't need to hang on to the guilt, shame, hopelessness, and despair over our sins. Jesus paid for our sins once and for all. His resurrection guarantees that.