I am a devout Christian and while this horror may shake my faith, I will not lose it. My God is a Living God. He is not dead. He has ears that hear, eyes that see, and hands that help and comfort. I just cannot see him very well these days. Is anyone out there also struggling with their faith? What scriptures do you hold onto? What prayers do you pray?
I love this scripture from Isaiah 49. What can be more of a tyrant than addiction? It gives me hope.
24Can the prey be taken from the mighty,
or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?
25For thus says the LORD: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken,
and the prey of the tyrant be rescued,
for I will contend with those who contend with you,
and I will save your children.
26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh,
and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine.
Then all flesh shall know
that I am the LORD your Savior,
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
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I'm right here. I am not a church going believer anymore, but I am a disciple and believer in Jesus and through my journey in recovery have come to know my God in ways I never understood were possible. For years I heard teaching on "dying to my flesh" and "surrendering my spirit" and it wasn't until I was broken through my daughter's addiction that I came to know what true brokenness and acceptance In Christ meant. I couldn't have created those dynamics in my life on my own...I couldn't have made myself "die to my self." It was through Step 1 and acknowledging I am powerless and letting go of my daughter and entrusting her into God's hands for His safekeeping that I came to know the unconditional love and acceptance of Christ in my life. It has changed my life. And what I love the most is that it is so real....not just cliche Christian talk, but birthed through heartbreak and surrender.
ReplyDeleteI am not a religious person but a spiritual one. I have come to believe through a program of recovery of Al-Anon. It has been a life saver for me. It has helped me to deal with my own issues of trying to control the alcoholic.
ReplyDeleteCC, there are quite a few Christian parents on the blogs. Debby comes to mind, here is a link to her, she doesn't write as often as she used to but I think you will enjoy her blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://howismyson.blogspot.com/
God has never left me or my daughter on this journey; unfortunately most of my church friends scattered like cockroaches. I have come to understand that there is a lot of fear and stigma surrounding addiction. I have found the most support in al-anon. My faith in God has strengthened so much, but my prayers have changed. I used to pray a long laundry list to God. Now I only pray for my children and myself to find the path God wants for us. I don't see God in my outcomes anymore., but as just with all of us no matter what our situation is.
ReplyDeleteNothing can take my faith away from me, I don't blame God, I think it's a waste of time. I do spend time praying & praising Him. I attend 2 different churches, and since MY "Higher Power" IS God, Al-Anon has improved my trust in God immensely the past 6 months - I mean I've been able to "Let go and let God" better than I have ever been able to in my past.
ReplyDeleteHere are 2 posts from my blog, one is scripture, and the other is my daily prayers for Heather.
http://heathersmom1.blogspot.com/2009/11/2-chronicles-2015.html
http://heathersmom1.blogspot.com/2010/01/prayers.html
God bless.
Thanks to Barbara, she sent me to visit your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm here, if you need any encouragement. I'm a true believer in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I do go to church every Sunday, and I am blessed to have a great group of sisters in my bible study. Had it not been for my faith in God, scripture, prayer and support, I doubt I would feel as strong and hopeful as I am today.
While my son is using methadone, and has been clean for six months, my journey is far from over. I pray for my son every single day, and I thank God for his Grace and Mercy upon him. There are days when I feel as though God has turned his back on me, and other days when I just KNOW he is trying to direct my son to follow his path. There are many of us bloggers who understand what you are going through. Sometimes it's hard, because there are non-believers or disillusioned Christians who don't understand our "lingo". I don't write as often as I do-- which is a good thing. That means my son is doing okay. But I do know that the powers of the Dark One is waiting to tempt my son. He is addicted to opiates, he believes in God...but you can't walk with God and hold hands with the devil. I believe addiction is a disease, by the way. But I also know that my son needs God's strength and wisdom to resist the temptation to use again. May you feel God's abundant love for you. He sees your tears, he feels your pain. Never stop praying.
Blessings,
Debby
Thank you for your notes of encouragement on my blog. I especially appreciate knowing other believers know this awful road. Someone sent me an encouraging scripture:
ReplyDelete" You will suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will see that all is well again. He will confirm, strengthen and support you. His power lasts forever and ever. Amen." (IPeter 5:10,11 NJB)
Amen and Amen!
My prayers are often silent. I don't know what to pray.
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes my prayers are bold, asking for deliverance, tearing down strongholds, acknowledging God's omnipotence and authority over satan's schemes.
Lord, teach me how to pray. Jesus did as he heard his father. Fill me with your Spirit that I might be led by the Spirit of God to intercede for my son. I realize it may be a single word, for if you are in it, nothing can stop it.
Show me your glory, Lord
Although I was raised in church and brought my children up attending church, I am not currently attending church anywhere. However, I have maintained a very close (if not closer) relationship with my God and do rely on Him daily for guidance and comfort. Two days ago I took my son to an addiction recovery center to begin his 30-35 day journey toward freedom. I am very excited and encouraged to have found your blog and plan to read all of your blogs and comments. *Galatians 6:2 By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ
ReplyDeleteJuly 23, 2011
ReplyDeleteI was so encouraged by these post I was feeling so alone, as a Christian parent of a addict daughter who has tried them all and loved oxys and heroine. She overdosed July 3rd on heroine after being clean for 13 months, just feeling so tired and heavy hearted right now.
Mom of addicted daughter, D.C.
I just don't understand sometimes I wish I could just die then to live with the pain of watching my child destroy his life and there is nothing I can do. I often ask why was I allowed the blessing of having this child and wanting so much for him and this is the way it turns out.... I am angry. He was in rehab for 9 months 3 yrs ago. It didn't take long after he got out to go back to using and that is when he was introduced to Heroin. He is so much worse this time where do they get help when they ask for it and have nothing ? we paid for the first one and are still paying.
ReplyDeleteMy son has just called me in tears telling me he used again after 60+ days of sobriety...he is 26. He is in sober living and now has to leave. His sponsor wants him to stay there with him in his sober house. I am praying and crying out to God for wisdom for him, for those around him that are sober and advising him. I am frightened again. I am a Christian, go to Church but I do not have one Christian friend. No one in the faith knows our situation though our son has lived through more than one overdose over the past 9 years. I hate heroin. I am frustrated that the Church has time to plan out a perfect music performance but has no clue that many sitting in their seats on Sunday are aching and suffering and feeling helpless that our loved ones are addicts. I want so much to ask a Pastor or Elder to pray over our son and us (as I have before) but they don't get it and treat addiction as if it's a filthy choice that is as easy to walk away from as it is to walk across the street. It's not easy to live sober even as a Christian that is clean. God helps us all as a body....
ReplyDeleteI am a woman of deep Christian faith. I am the blessed wife of a devout Christian believer husband as well. We are the parents of 3 wonderful children. Our youngest is our daughter, age 24, intelligent, beautiful, and....a heroine addict. I have run the gamut of emotions from denial to anger to now, 3 years into this, profound sadness. Our faith has sustained my husband and me. It has provided us with hope. As long as she lives, there is hope for a better day, hope for clean and sober recovery of tomorrow. My prayers are daily, many times hourly for my daughter, for myself, for my other family members. For my daughter, I keep them simple as I am a simple minded person. I personally believe our addict children are in a spiritual battle, therefore my simple prayer is "Greater is He that is in (insert childs name), than he that is in the world". I pray for protection from temptation, for her safety, and for her health. I pray for our daughter to have the mind and heart to flee from temptation. I pray for God to place people and circumstances in her life that would finally break her, bring her to her knees, and desire reovery. I lastly pray that God not allow her to die, without reconciling herself to Christ. She had accepted Christ as a young girl, but has made choices that are not in keeping with His will or His ways. We will not lose hope, we will persevere petitioning our Lord on her behalf. I will today, make it my own personal ministry to pray daily for ALL of our children drowning in this sea of addiction. I would also covet any prayers for my daughter from anyone reading this. The Lord who loves her far above myself, knows her name....in fact, He knows the number of hairs on her head.....Thank you
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ReplyDeleteI became the mother of an addict son 8 years ago. I had days when all I would do is cry but as the yeas past, I realized that my faith and strength in the LORD was growing. I am blessed that I have a pastor and a church that has his pulse o what is going on in the community and in his church. Please be encouraged because GOD is faithful and he will never leave us. However, we have to be aware of the work that he is doing in us and in the other members of our family throughout this journey and be honest to say to ourselves IF THIS DID NOT HAPPEN, WOULD I BE THE BELIEVER THAT I AM TODAY? In my case the answer is NO. So, I continue to look forward to my son's healing and deliverance and to the new woman in all aspects that he created me to be through his WORD. GOD WILL DELIVER OUR CHILDREN BUT WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE IN BETWEEN TIME.
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