NEW HOPE

In addition to the mission, I volunteer at a weekly R.E.A.C.H. meeting. 

Reach

Every

Addict with

Christ’s

Help.  

The weekly REACH meeting walks attendees through a series of discussions about the nature of addiction, how it takes control of our lives, and how Christ can deliver us from this horrible affliction.

Last week a young girl came to the meeting for the first time.  She was a mess.  We spent nearly the whole hour and a half letting her vent frustrations and cry.  Her marriage had failed.  She had lost custody of her only son.  But she checked herself into a rehab center 4 months earlier and had gotten herself cleaned up.  She had even regained custody of her son.  Her mother, however, was still hurt and distrustful, which is understandable.  But after all her efforts to get clean and regain custody of her son, this distrust really hurt. 

There were many, painful tears.

It was a gut wrenching meeting. 

Among other things, she made several comments about being really distrustful of Christians because of what she said she went through at home as a child even though her parents were regular church goers.  Still, we were straight with her that we believe Jesus is real and that, regardless of her experiences, He is the answer.  But mostly she just cried and vented.  And we prayed and encouraged.

I’ve known this girl ever since she was in high school.  She is well known in our little community, comes from a family with a solid reputation, and basically had everything going for her.  But drugs and drug addiction penetrate every section of our society.  No family is immune.  No one is immune.  It’s devastating.  And this poor child’s life, like so many others, had been destroyed.   

It broke my heart.

But there was something in the midst of all her tears and pain.  According to her, her father had been an abusive alcoholic even though he was a “Christian”.  But she noted several times that now he was the one who seemed to really understand her addiction.  And he was the one who seemed to really care about her and her recovery.  And he was genuine about it.  He had changed.

She came into the meeting last night and you could hardly tell she was the same girl.  Her dad had asked her to go to church with him Sunday.  She didn’t want to go, wasn’t interested at all.  But she said she had basically been cooped up at the house since she got out of rehab and didn’t have anything else to do.  So she got ready and went with him.

She said it hit her as soon as she walked into the door of the church house.  Her heart was pounding in her chest.  She could barely contain the tears.  She noticed her dad noticing her as if he knew she was “under conviction”.  She said she tried to distract herself by playing with her son.  But she couldn’t get past it.    

When the preacher asked, she said she same as dropped her little boy and almost ran to the altar!  She said she prayed for mercy and cried and cried and cried and probably screamed some, too!  I was moved to tears hearing her tell about it.  I later laughed with her and joked that her son probably hadn’t bounced his second bounce off the floor by the time she was half way to the altar.

Thank You, Jesus !!!!!!!

What an amazing change when you say “Yes” to Jesus and let Him take away the weight of all your burdens.  Her entire countenance had changed.  Like I said, she didn’t even look like the same girl.  There’s a physical change as well as a change of heart when the weight of the world is lifted off of your shoulders. 

Lay down your burden

I will carry you

I will carry you

My child, my child

There’s a glow.  The smile is so much more real and deep and contagious.  They eyes aren’t hiding anything anymore.  Hope jumps out from you.  Joy spills all over everyone around you.  Heaven has been tasted.

Heaven is here now

He’s all around us

Heaven is Jesus

The moment we meet

She encouraged everyone at the meeting last night with an overwhelming enthusiasm. 

Thank You, Jesus !!!!!!!

I know trials will come.  Addiction had its hooks deeply in her.  It will try to draw her back into that world of darkness.  There will be many challenging troubles ahead.  But she has taken the first step.  She said “Yes” when Jesus asked “May I come in?” 

Christ will surely be with her through any and all of the troubles and trials she will surely face.

But right now, let’s rejoice with this young girl who, for the first time in years, has had her guilt and shame lifted and has hope for her future.

Hallelujah !!!!!!!

Thank You, Jesus.  Thank You, Jesus.  THANK YOU, JESUS !!!!!!!