“From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people, Paul thanked God and was encouraged.” ~ Acts 28:13-15
I was in a strange place, surrounded by people who I had never before met. It’d been a week since my last drink, and all I could think about was how I’d allowed myself get to the point in my life to need the professional help of an institution to get sober. The fear and uncertainty of what lied ahead was overwhelming. It was the most lonely, humiliating experience in my life.
But God had me right where He wanted me.
Over the coming week a new patient was admitted to the facility. As he shared his personal battles with alcoholism to the group in the days ahead, I would learn that aside from sharing the same disease of addiction, we also had several other common interests. As we got to know each other over the next month, we would spend time each evening sharing stories (some funny, some sad) about ourselves. It’s hard to explain, but he ended up being just what I needed at that very moment in my life.
A Godsend.
You see, I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to leave and come home. I missed my family. I had missed Thanksgiving with them, and if I stayed – I was looking at missing Christmas and New Years with them as well. Knowing where I was in my life, in desperate need of guidance and a friend, God came through yet again.
He sent me an encourager.
I’ve not seen my rehab buddy in the three years since, but we stay in touch frequently. In a recent phone conversation, I shared with him that not long after we parted ways that cold January afternoon back in 2019, I rededicated my life to Christ. “That is so awesome, brother! And guess what – I did too. I joined a local church, and go every Sunday now.”
He continued. “It’s interesting that God put you in my life, Scott. He knew I wasn’t in a good place, that I needed a friend to talk to, someone to encourage me. You ended up being a huge help to me, and I’ll never forget that.”
Imagine that… God allowed the one who desperately needed encouragement at the most challenging time in his life to be an encourager to someone else.
Friend, no matter where we are in life today, whether joyously celebrating on the mountaintops or simply trying to make it another day in the valleys below, God knows precisely where we are. And not only does He know what we need, but also who He can send to help us.
Godsends don’t just come from out of nowhere. They’re special. They’re sent by a Creator who loves us. But what more would we expect from Someone who sent us the Perfect Encourager over 2000 years ago, who gave his life for all of humanity!
He’s still sending encouragers today, and sometimes they show up in the strangest places.
Sometimes they even show up in a treatment center during Christmastime. 🙂
Former Blackout Artist 