Finding Hope In A Dark Place

Recovery begins when we come to our senses and affirm that we are powerless over alcohol or some other substance or habit, and our lives have become unmanageable.  It is a profound moment, not of hopelessness but of letting go and turning our focus somewhere new for solutions to our life’s problems. 

Foolish people say in their hearts, “There is no God.”  They do all kinds of horrible and evil things.  No one does anything good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all people. He wants to see if there are any who understand.  He wants to see if there are any who trust in God. All of them have turned away.  They have all become evil. No one does anything good, no one at all.  (Psalm 14:1-3 NIRV)

We did horrible things to ourselves and others as we sank further and further into the pit of our destructive lifestyle.    We lost sight of a way to change and lost contact with our emotions, until we didn’t even care.  We often think that our powerlessness and the unmanageability of our lives is the dark and disconnected place we arrived at through our addiction.  Actually, it is not.  That is a result not a cause.  The real root cause is the fact that we either didn’t know or didn’t dare to reach out and trust that there was a God who made us, who loves us, and who is longing to care for us in a way that makes life possible and meaningful.  We thought and lived as if there was no God.  We now have lots of proof that it truly is the foolish people who say in their hearts “There is no God.”

We give thanks to God that even though we gave up on Him, He did not give up on us.  God kept calling out to us and inviting us to a life that was always meant to be – a life dependent on His goodness and love so we could achieve the good things He had planned for us.  May we choose to seek God today.  As we are so often reminded, “God could and would if He were sought.” 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the chaos and suffering I have caused by living as though You did not exist.  I affirm today that You are God.  You created me in love, and You will show me a way to live well.  I am not sure how it all works but the wreck of my life, and the witness of others who say that You made a difference in their lives, and the truth of Your Words I read in the Bible, have convinced me that I really do need You.  Help me to know You more.  Today, I turn my will and my life over to Your care.  Amen

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