My husband and I are in search of a new place for our family to worship. We belonged to a Lutheran church for several years, as he was raised traditionally in the church, but politics started to affect our church. Then, COVID happened and we all learned how to worship within the confines of our homes and really seek Jesus one-on-one (this was actually good for the body, to remember that He is everywhere and we can worship Him anywhere). Last month, I started attending a nondenominational mega (somewhat) church in Glen Burnie, MD, called Light House. I have been a handful of times over the years, but never consistently. I’ve been going for the past six weeks by myself (me time + jesus time = pure bliss), and I convinced my husband to join me this past Sunday.
My four-year-old daughter exclaimed, “This is such a really great place!” as soon as we entered the huge building. As I have mentioned in previous posts, she, too, is a discerner who feels the energy (and spirits) of the environment around her (she’s also a seer). She usually hesitates to join children’s ministries and would prefer to hang with mommy and daddy during service, but this time she was all too eager to join the other kids and make new friends. At the end of service, we got to meet the lead pastor in the atrium, and Lily ran up and gave him a big bear hug. It was too sweet.
The leader of the church is very open about his walk with Jesus and his struggles. As someone who is also transparent, I love to witness that quality in others. He candidly discusses how Christ healed him from heroin addiction. Today, he uses what God has done for him by showing others how to walk with Jesus and heal from addiction. His congregation is large and diverse. I love seeing people from ALL walks of life worship together. You don’t see that in a lot of churches. The musical team is super talented and the praise music moves me to tears every week.
This pastor’s journey through addiction got me thinking about those who continue to struggle—whether with alcohol, drugs, pain pills, cigarettes, or any other substance. I have never battled substance abuse, but I do manage depression (and anxiety at times), so I understand the pain. I believe that most addictions are bred out of pain—in desperation, seeking anything to take the edge off the physical and emotional anguish that we all manage to some degree, some more than others.
The message I take out of this pastor’s testimony is HOPE. Hope in the healing that Christ can provide if we we’re willing to take it. I watched my own family member struggle for years with drug and alcohol use, and it wasn’t until she renewed her faith in Christ, and got back into a good Bible-based church, that she experienced real healing. To this day, she credits Jesus for saving her from a downward spiral (she was close to dying) and getting her back on course. I’m sure that some of you thank Him for the same—for your sobriety or for someone you know. Jesus heals addiction. It is undeniable. The testimonies are plentiful and awe-inspiring.
The Lord wants us to live clean and sober lives, but he doesn’t hold our struggles against us. He knows that we often succumb to the fleshy temptations of this world. But when we do, we can draw upon His well of resources to climb back up. We can be delivered and restored. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve fallen off the wagon. The Lord cares about your willingness to keep trying—to keep working toward healing. Jesus can take your addiction and turn it into one of his best testimonies if you’re willing to surrender to Him. The messier you are, the more He can make a masterpiece of your situation (not only heal you, but advance you to a point where you can help others who are similarly situated…all for His glory).
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, I’d like to encourage you to hold fast to hope. Hope for what He has already accomplished on the cross and for what He can do in our lives. By His stripes, we are healed! Declare this often. Find your favorite verses on healing and pray them daily. Ask others to pray for you. Seek out professional and spiritual help. There are many Bible-based churches that offer effective recovery programs for addiction. You are not alone—there is community to help you along the way.
