There are some memories we would rather not relive let alone share with others. The thought of the terrible consequences we brought on ourselves and others breaks our hearts and brings tears to our eyes.
I was reminded recently that God does not get any glory from secrets. We find healing and restoration from revealing our past mistakes or painful experiences, and others also benefit.
Whenever I share about my years of alcohol abuse, I regularly say that I was a “functional alcoholic.” I took pride in the fact that I went to work every day, made a decent living, and cared for my children’s physical needs for the most part. However, until recently, I had neglected to share a significant part of the story. I had blocked it from my memory.
There was a time when my youngest daughter’s father and I owned a five-bedroom home. We lived there for four years, and then we lost it. We lost our house because we were both addicted to alcohol and allowed the addiction to permeate every area of our lives. Nothing about this state of being was “functional.” It was a state of merely existing. We were in deep distress and still did not recognize it.
I was reminded of this when thinking about people who are homeless. If it had not been for my loving family, my children and I would have been homeless. Although my family knew I brought these consequences on myself, they still provided shelter from the storm. During this storm raging within me that caused me to lose myself, I had a physical place of safety. I thank God for that! Oh, but for the grace of God, our needs were met.
It would still be several years before I finally surrendered my life fully to Christ and found deliverance from my addiction. However, when I look back over all those years, God was right there all along. His hand was on my life and the life of my children. Through every struggle, every misstep, every heartache and detour in the road, He was there. He was pursuing me and showing me how much He loved me even when I could not perceive it. He loved me despite my sin.
Not everyone has the same type of safety from their storms as I had. Our lives are often vastly different. God created us each in His image. Yet, we are uniquely designed to fulfill His purposes. We all have a journey before us that takes us down paths of uncertainty, fear, and doubt. God uses different ways to reach each of us. He knows exactly what we need when we need it.
Remember those who are weary and broken on this battlefield of life, those who are homeless or barely able to make ends meet. We are called to not just love with our words but with our actions. We are called to carry each other’s burdens and to be a voice for the voiceless. There are many wounded warriors among us. Look for opportunities to serve those within the body of Christ who may have taken a wrong turn or circumstances beyond their control brought them to a place of despair and hopelessness. There are opportunities all around us to help. Loving others well requires sacrifice. Jesus loved us enough to pay the greatest sacrifice in history. How can we live our lives without loving others sacrificially?
Maybe you are walking through a storm right now. Even if the storm results from sin in your life, God is still with you. Repent and cry out to Him. He will answer. He is our place of safety. He is our refuge in all storms. He wants us to come and to rest in Him. He wants us to live whole, healed, and free. We cannot do it without Him. We cannot do it without each other either. Though, many of us have tried and failed miserably.
Praise Him amid the storm. Our time of wounding is merely a season. When God brings you through it, don’t forget to give Him the glory! Don’t forget to shout it from the rooftop! Let His praise ever be on your lips. Tell of His wonderful acts to those who need to hear all about the hope that you have. Nothing we experience in this life is wasted in the Kingdom of God. Do not be too ashamed to tell your story. It is a story of restoration. It is a story of hope. It’s a story of the goodness of God.
(Psalm 105:1-4 NIV) Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
