My name is Joshua Scalf, and this is my story.
The monster of addiction that has destroyed so many lives is the same monster I battled for thirteen years. He used to exhaust my every thought, consume my dreams, and rob me of all truth. His grip was tight. His lies were blinding. And a relationship with him always ends the same—pain, misery, and regret.
Who was I?
For thirteen years, I was a slave to addiction. I was dope-driven, wild-eyed, and reckless. I didn’t care who or what stood in my way as long as I got high. My conscience was numb. My heart was hard. I chose drugs over every person who ever truly loved me.
I abused the love of my family, shattered the trust of friends, and left behind a trail of heartbreak and betrayal. That lifestyle landed me four calendar years in the Virginia Department of Corrections. Whether it was grand theft auto or drug distribution, I rode addiction all the way down the rabbit hole, convinced there was no way back.
Addiction made me sick
I went to desperate lengths to hide my drug use. At one point, I seriously injured myself to obtain pain medication and avoid a drug test. I could have lost my life, but God spared me. The scar I wear is a daily reminder of how sick addiction made me—and how far I’ve come.
Regret is a heavy companion
I missed my niece’s birth. I missed my grandfather’s funeral. I was so high, I couldn’t even feel grief. I remember my grandmother leaning over his casket with no grandson by her side because I was locked in a closet chasing a needle. I gave up my family, my dignity, my soul.
If you’re reading this and know what that pain feels like, let me say this: you’re not too far gone.
A new chapter
While incarcerated, I gave my life to Jesus Christ. He filled my heart with love for people suffering from addiction, and I began teaching other men about freedom through Him. On April 15, 2011, Recovery Soldiers Ministries began. When I was released in October 2014, that calling continued.
By 2015, God had already started a powerful work in me. I had begun the 501(c)(3) process, and the name Recovery Soldiers Ministries was burning in my spirit. The vision was alive, and I was ready to fight for souls.
That’s when I met Marley—the woman God told me would be my wife and my partner in this calling. We got married in 2016 and stepped into a faith journey together that would stretch us, grow us, and mark us forever.
What started with a burden in my heart and a step of obedience has now grown—by the grace of God—into four campuses, rescuing, restoring, and raising up men and women out of addiction and into purpose. What the enemy meant for destruction, God has turned into a movement of redemption and revival.
Freedom is real
I was a liar. A thief. A junkie. A drunk. I was the embodiment of everything I now stand against. But I gave it all to Jesus Christ. He carried my shame up Golgotha’s hill and nailed it to a cross. The blood He shed didn’t just cover my sin—it broke its power.
God didn’t just save me from something—He saved me for something.
He’s taken my appetite for destruction and replaced it with a hunger to help others. There’s no drug on earth that compares to watching someone get free—seeing the light come back into someone’s eyes, hearing a child say, “That’s my daddy,” and knowing you’re finally the man God created you to be.
Sobriety isn’t the end goal—purpose is
Yes, the beginning is awkward. We don’t know how to do “normal.” We’re not used to using calendars, being on time, or sitting at a dinner table. The silence after the chaos can feel unbearable. But that’s when the real healing starts.
Don’t confuse boredom with lack of progress. Don’t confuse discomfort with failure. You’re building a new life—one habit, one step, one prayer at a time.
Redemption is possible—for you too
I won’t tell you it’s easy. The road to recovery is filled with blind curves and detours. But if you keep your eyes on Jesus and your foot on the brake when temptation comes, you’ll get there. You’ll become the parent, the son, the daughter, the friend you were always meant to be.
Work hard. Show up. Stay planted. Take your hands off the wheel and let God steer.
And pray. Always pray.
Not just over food. Not just before bed. I mean really pray. Cry out to God when you feel the urge, when you feel the shame, when you feel the loneliness. Ask Him to help you. Seek Him with everything you have left. Knock until the door opens. (Luke 11:9–10)
To the person still suffering—there’s hope.
To the family that’s hurting—there’s help. Recovery Soldiers Ministries exists because God put it in our hearts to fight on the front lines. We’re not just a program. We’re a spiritual army, rescuing the wounded and restoring the broken. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)
If you’re lost in addiction, reach out. If you’ve been praying for someone who is, connect with us. And if you feel led, partner with us. Your support can help someone else find the freedom I now live in every single day.
— Joshua Scalf