Dark, trapped, hopeless....
The words describe what being a slave to the enemy and alcoholism feel like.
I have had an issue with alcohol for over 30 years.
Of course, it was a little "social drinking" which evolved into drinking at home, alone. From that point the quantity and time spent drinking just increased. The enemy uses alcohol very insidiously. You're caught in his snare long before you realize it.
My reasoning or self-justification for drinking was that I didn't "feel" the pain and loneliness that I had experienced from childhood all the way to adulthood. In a room full of people, I would feel alone but I soon found that with alcohol, I would become confident and chatty. And of course, I felt no emotional pain.
During the last few years that I drank, I sought seclusion so that I could "conceal" my drinking from others. (Really, at that point everyone knew) I lost jobs, places to live, friends, my dog, and even my family had to refuse to enable me.
I always had an excuse, it was always someone else's fault...... Typical addictive behavior.
The endgame came when I was in my late 50's.
I was not getting out of bed, was drunk 24/7 and still barely clung to the work-at-home job I had managed to acquire.
I wished that I could die.
The only reason I was drinking was to keep from going through alcohol withdrawals.
It wasn't "fun" any longer.
The enemy was trying to take me from this world entangled deep in my sin.
I finally mustered the strength and courage to call a detox facility in Nashville and a friend drove me there and that was the start of my recovery.
I wish I could say that it ended "happily ever after" from that point but, I went through a few secular residential treatment programs and relapses before I got my DUI and ended up in jail. I went through alcohol withdrawals while incarcerated. Literally living heโ:ice_hockey:
.
When I was released from jail, I had absolutely lost everything. I was homeless and on the street.
I clearly remember the night that my knees literally hit the pavement and I gave myself to the Lord Jesus Christ. I begged Him to help me because I couldn't do it myself.
God began moving in my life about 10 minutes after my call for help.
A tourist and his family saw me on the side of the street and asked me if I was okay. When I told them my story, they paid for a hotel room for me for two nights so I could shower, get some rest and plan my next step.
I ended up calling a friend to take me to KARM
(Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries) and after spending one night there, I was placed at Serenity Ministry. That is where my fire for the Lord was encouraged, the enemy is not welcome there so he could not follow. I grew in health both spiritually and physically......
To this day Serenity is such a special place to me. I have met so many good friends there and I now have a Pastor that knows me personally.
Jesus saved my life and led me to a place where I had the tools and the love to become well....... Both in the flesh and spiritually!! 
I have as of today almost 3 YEARS SOBER!!
(July 15th, 2022)
I am planning on getting CPRS (Certified Peer Recovery Specialist) certified within the next few months so that I can help others that are in similar situations.
I left Serenity in April of 2024 and as most of you know, I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in May of 2024. I am now in full remission as of April 8th 2025.
God is amazing!!!
Who has no trace of stage 3 cancer in less than a year!?!? God is so very good 
I felt compelled to write this, this morning after I was asked to use three words to describe alcoholism.
Dark, trapped, hopeless......
Three words to describe sobriety and God's grace.
Light, freedom, eternal hope 
This is the condensed version because to tell my entire story would fill an entire book!!
AS AN AFTER NOTE ON THIS STORY, I RELAPSED AFTER OVER 3 YEARS OF SOBRIETY ON NOVEMBER 14TH 2025.
AS OF THIS UPDATE, I HAVE 7 DAYS SOBER.....
THE BATTLE NEVER ENDS, BUT WE STAND BACK UP, BRUSH OFF THE DUST AND KEEP FOLLOWING THE LORD
I love you all
Glory be to God!!
#werecover #Godisgoodallthetime #sobriety #JesusLovesYouMoreThanYouKnow 
โ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐
๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐.โ ๐
๐ค๐๐ฃ ๐ด:๐ฏ๐ฒ 
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#addiction #recovery #rehab #christianrehab #outpatientrehab #counseling #therapy #intensiveoutpatient #faithbased #faithbasedrehab #addict #sober #addictionrecovery #drugfreestrength #christianity #christian #HealingStartsHere #FalseNarratives #FaithOverFear
