Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” – John 4:10
There were a lot of reasons why I justified my alcoholism. Anxiety, depression, fear, failure, loneliness, insecurity, unworthiness… alcohol just seemed to be the only thing that could remove all of those horrible feelings.
But when the alcohol wore off, those things were still there. So I drank even more, and in no time I was in a constant state of blackout. Except the alcohol stopped working. Then the Four Horsemen of Alcoholism began showing up at my doorstep early each morning: Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, and Despair.
One day would lead to the next. Over and over. I had lost all sense of time, all sense of purpose, all sense of living. I wasn’t just waiting to die; I was doing everything I could to quicken death’s arrival.
And then one day Jesus showed up in my life, unannounced. “You don’t have to keep doing this, you know. I have a better plan for you. You never have to feel this way ever again. All you have to do is trust me. Can you do that?”
I said, “Yes. Please help me.”
Jesus continued removing things in my life, things besides the alcohol, to make room for what he had to offer. He didn’t do it all at once, but gradually, day by day, he began filling my heart with things that I hadn’t felt in years; things like joy, peace, acceptance, love, forgiveness, and a willingness to help others. Things that many years of alcoholism had stolen from me.
Jesus gave me a new identity, a brand new life of promise and hope.
He can do the same for you. Your situation may seem hopeless, but friend, nothing is impossible for the Lord. All you have to do is trust him. Can you do that?
All that’s left is to Just Say Yes.
Former Blackout Artist 