Author, Andy Partington

On a bitterly cold afternoon in January 2009, a passenger plane lost both engines just minutes after take-off from New York’s La Guardia Airport.

The captain was Sully Sullenberger.

With their powerless aircraft gliding over one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Sully and his co-pilot made a critical decision. They would not attempt to reach an airport. Instead, they would land the plane on the Hudson River.

All 155 passengers and crew survived.

Later Sully reflected on how he was able to respond so effectively under such pressure:

“For 42 years, I’ve been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education, and training. On January 15, the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.”

Faithful and effective service in tough times rarely appears out of nowhere—it is the fruit of years of quiet formation.

Nowhere do we see that more clearly than in the life of Jesus.

As we reflect on Easter, this is an important lesson for those of us serving in addiction recovery ministry. Helping “set at liberty those who are oppressed“ (Luke 4:18) is beautiful work—but it is also demanding. Trials are not the exception; they are part of the calling.

To see what faithfulness under pressure looks like, look with me at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and the events that followed.

When the Disciples Slept, Jesus Wrestled

In Gethsemane, knowing what was to come, Jesus took Peter, James, and John aside and told them:

“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Mark 14:34)

Then he went a little farther and prayed:

“Abba, Father… everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mark 14:36)

This was not polite, quiet prayer. This was wrestling.

Meanwhile, the disciples slept.

Luke tells us they were “sleeping for sorrow.” It’s not hard to sympathize with them.

The Jesus Revolution was about to be crushed—humanly speaking—by the Roman Empire. The man they had given up everything to follow was deeply distressed.

Anyone working in addiction recovery knows about sorrow and exhaustion. The stories are heavy, the setbacks discouraging, the needs endless, and the resources finite.

Our culture may tell us that when we feel overwhelmed, the answer is rest, distraction, or entertainment.

But Jesus models something different.

When the pressure mounted, he went deeper into prayer, bringing both sides of his heart to the Father:

“Take this cup from me.”

“Not my will, but yours.”

Those of us who serve in recovery ministry need more than rest.

We need to bring our fears and fatigue honestly before him, wrestling in prayer until we can move forward in his strength, not our own.

When the Disciples Fought and Fled, Jesus Submitted

Soon after, Judas arrived with soldiers.

Peter reacted the way many of us might—he drew a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. (Was that exceptional swordsmanship or uncoordinated panic?)

Moments later, the disciples fled. Fight or flight—the instinctive human response to danger.

And yet Jesus chose neither.

He could have called down “twelve legions of angels.” Instead, he courageously submitted to the Father’s plan.

There are moments when we want to fight—to push harder, control outcomes, and force change.

There are moments when we want to withdraw—to protect ourselves and disengage from the pain.

But the Kingdom of God is not built that way. It’s built through obedience.

As theologians NT Wright and Michael Bird put it:

“Too many so-called disciples are committed to Jesus to the point of convenience, not to the point where their discipleship costs them anything. Yet Jesus bids us all… to do hard things, crazy things, and impossible things…”

When the Disciples Denied, Jesus Declared

While Jesus stood trial before the high priest, Peter stood warming himself beside a fire in the courtyard.

A servant girl recognized him.

“You were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

Peter denied it. Three times.

Meanwhile, inside the courtroom, Jesus faced a parallel question.

“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

His answer.

“I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Where Peter denied, Jesus declared the truth.

When we face trials of our own, we do well to declare that same truth—fixing our confidence on who Jesus is, the victory he has won, and the Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Jesus told his followers:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

As we serve in the addiction recovery world, our call is to follow Jesus’ example: to wrestle in prayer, to submit to the Father, and to declare the truth that Christ has overcome.

And we do this best when we do it together.

Sully stood firm under trial because, over decades, he had been making “small, regular deposits” in the bank of experience, education, and training.

The same is true in our work and discipleship. Faithfulness in trials rarely appears out of nowhere; it is formed through countless small deposits—time in prayer, learning from others, sharing wisdom, and encouraging one another in the truth.

In the coming months, ISAAC will host panels and forums designed to help us make those kinds of deposits as we learn from, pray for, and strengthen one another in this difficult but beautiful work.

We hope you’ll join us in these conversations. Find out more below and we hope you have a blessed Easter.

ISAAC Forum Online: Working from a place of spiritual health (22-Apr-2026) · CharitySuite Events