"God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devils trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." 2 Timothy 2:24-26
A dear friend of mine has a child with addiction issues. Somehow, even though her parents wanted her very much and love her very much, she got high and liked it. Even though she was in Girl Scouts and played sports in high school and got a great college education, she grew up to drink alcohol pretty regularly. Soon, she disliked feeling any other way than high. So, she tried another drug, and she liked that, too…the esquisiteness, but soon she needed to up the ante. Just a little higher.
Hi. My name is Jana and I am a believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with alcohol. Alcohol and anxiety, and maybe a baker’s dozen of other issues. I know about the devil's trap of addiction, and I also know about the frustration of working with others who struggle with it. Because sometimes - even when you've been through the experience yourself - you really want others to just get sobriety. You want it to "stick" for them.
Working patiently with those who refuse to obey. Being in recovery ministry is hard work, but most addicts really do want to get well. My friend's daughter doesn't want to die. She is running the devil's errands in her active disease, using her body as the vehicle and her spirit as currency. She is caught and held captive by the high she seeks and doesn't yet know the esquisite joy of a life of sobriety. She doesn't yet know that it is her only option for living.
If you know and love an alcoholic or addict, construct the healthiest boundaries you can, but keep the door open to listen. Speak to them in loving truth, without enabling. This is - admittedly - such a hard balance to strike! It is nearly impossible,but impossibility is no problem for God! Be prayerful every step of the way. This is what I tell my dear friend, whose child struggles so...that sobriety can and will "stick" for addicts. You never know when God might sober them up with a change of heart, and they might pay recovery forward for others.
If he did it for me, he can do it for anybody.
He has, and he will. One day at a time.
Cris Clemons | Dec 10, 2012 | 5:32pm
Thank you so much for sharing this Jana! You know how much we struggle with this with Roger’s brother and this is the beautiful encouragement we need to do the right thing and to remain in prayer always! I loved your piece on chocolate too!!
Deborah Ann Culp | Dec 22, 2012 | 5:51pm
Wow! I can proudly say that I know Jana and she is true to her word. My fellow colleague stated the trust about addiction and the practices, thereof. You (Rehtorically speaking) “Cannot” make an actively practicing alcoholic or addict stop using and the behavior that goes hand in hand with it. That person is chaing that “first high” and it will never be relived! I speak from experience adn prior life experiences allowed me to use prescrition drugs as a crutch. At that time in my life, I wasn’t concerned about addressing those feeling. (If you don’t deal with the feelings, they will deal with you) Last, it is easier for them (the addict/alcoholic) to pull you in than it is for you to pull them out! Yes it hurts to see our friends, family and associates caught up in that form of hell. If that using person wants out - “hell does have an exit!” Thank God I decided to see it and gdt off, when it came around again. The loved ones were still dead, I still have health issues and the is a great deal of wreckage from my past to clean up. Keeping God first, ther eis a plan and I intend tokeep taking full advantage of it. Thank God for Jana Greene for shing a much needed loving, light on this topic. We’ll look forward to more in 2013. God bless you Jana, happy holidays to you and yours. DAC
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