I often write about getting through difficult times. As real as the difficulties have been, they become fewer over time.
I have found that the more attention that I pay to my spiritual connection with God, the easier my life becomes – inside of my heart and soul.
Finding a rhythm with God and with others allows me to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of the world. It takes practice.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
Having to get sober is difficult. In a couple of words, it sucks. When I got sober, the shame, guilt, remorse, and self-loathing were almost unbearable.
All these were feelings that I would ordinarily drink or use drugs over.
I could not get better all at once. It takes time. It takes pain. It takes desperation.
No person could give me relief from those feelings. It takes God’s Help. My suffering, although horrible, has caused me to seek God to guide me away from the Hell in which I was living.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
We all screw up sometimes. It’s human nature. We are not perfect.
Sometimes my mistakes affect only me, but usually they involve others.
I must recognize when I make a mistake and try to correct it as soon as I can. I can’t run and hide because my conscience will always catch up to me.
I must ask for forgiveness and be willing to forgive others, just as God forgives me.
Only then can I find peace.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
When my soul is in pain, there is a feeling of desperation unlike any other. The noise in my head keeps me from thinking clearly and causes a deep panic within me.
It seems that people often say “God help me!” only when they are desperate or when their hope is lost.
The soul pain is God calling me to seek His Help. God is always with me but He allows me to wander from the right path.
If I ignore God and wander too far on my own free-will, I will lose my way. The treachery of my bad choices will haunt me.
When I seek God’s Guidance daily, the path becomes clear.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
There are times when I’m looking for an answer and it doesn’t seem to come when I want it or it’s not the answer I want.
Sometimes the answer is exactly what I get whether I like it or not.
I don’t always get what I want but I always get what I need. I just have to accept that and look for the gift in it.
I should just be happy that I’m still in the game – God is still giving me playing time.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
Every day an alcoholic suffers and dies.
Every day an alcoholic walks into their first AA meeting with their hair on-fire and their ass in their hands, trying to save it.
Not everyone makes it. The ones that do are the messengers. The ones that don’t are the message.
The ones who make it follow the path lit by those who already have found their way.
God is with each of us. If we choose to see God and follow the messengers sent by Him, there is a better life awaiting us.
The choice is a miserable death versus a happy life.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
It has become clear to me that the alcohol addiction is just a symptom of my alcoholism.
With or without the alcohol, my problem starts inside of me – my thoughts, feelings, and actions.
After the alcohol was removed, I was still stuck with myself. I had to change.
It’s like when a drunk horse-thief stops drinking – he’s still a horse-thief.
I had to take an honest look at myself and ask God to help me to change.
Without the change, I would surely drink again.
Without God’s help, I cannot change.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
When I was about 30 days without a drink I was told, “… You’re going to earn the right to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of the world with your head held high.”.
At the time, I was just afraid that I would just wind up drunk. I had no idea what it meant. I thought my life was over.
By trusting God and following simple directions one day at a time, I was able to change. I have been able to live a life beyond anything I ever could have imagined.
As hard as it has been at times, I never gave up hope.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
I remember hanging on with little hope. I had no idea how I would get through the day.
I was told, “One day at a time – one moment at a time.”
It worked. I realized that I can get through this moment if I look at only this moment – not the past nor the future.
I just need to keep breathing, keep praying, and keep trusting that God has my back.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.
There was a time in my life where I truly believed I was hopeless – that my destiny was to suffer in sadness and misery until eventually I would just die. I thought that getting to that end as quickly as possible was the best choice for me.
I did not know where or how to find help, so I didn’t look for it.
I felt so isolated that I didn’t know who to ask for help.
That’s when God sent an angel to get my attention. The angel didn’t wear wings, but introduced me to others who knew what to do.
I can’t ignore God’s Hand in redirecting my life. God is still writing my story.
God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.