Victory

I just spent the evening sharing with my parents about my past. I never thought I'd be so encouraged going through some of that stuff. Please take a minute to be reminded that victories do happen.

What was:

...Calls in the middle of the night being told their son is in jail... again.

Mother and Father got to the point where they were afraid to answer the phone late at night.

They asked themselves... "Will we ever get our son back?"

It is a shocking feeling when handcuffs are placed around your wrists. It can be very defeating when the life you live reveals a cycle of choices leading to that difficult outcome. 

Losing respect for myself because all I saw was my failures, I drowned myself in things that would prove that that was who I was, a failure.

But God didn't let go. No matter how hard I tried, He wouldn't let go. He finally got my attention. It took a prison cell and a lot of hurt... but He showed me that I was here for more than this.  My heart started to turn.

Now... it takes time for change, but it only takes a moment to make the choice to turn around and stop pushing Him away. Then, we start to grow... turning from wanting to push Him away... to wanting to pull Him closer.

So I started a journey and that journey led me to where I am today. You see, God took an addict who wanted nothing more out of life but a never-ending bottle of pills and gave him Life. 

What is:

Now, as I talk about how I used to be, it doesn't bring me discouragement. It brings me joy because I see how God moved in my life. I see how He changed my desires, my appetites. Now my parents don't share their concerns about whether they will ever have their son back like they used to. Now, they say they are proud of the man I've become/ am becoming.

Now please understand, I am NOT writing these things to boast in myself, because it was not me. Trust me, it was NOT me. I say these things because of what He's done in my Life... what He continues to do. 

What we need to do:

We've all been somewhere, but God takes the things that the world meant for our destruction and turns them into opportunities to show His glory. He takes our past that we were burdened by... and uses it as a stepping stone to rise from... a mark for Him to show us what He can and will deliver us from.

Think about it:

There are victories made every day. Addictions being overcome by those who choose to chase after God harder than chasing a habit. Marriages are being saved by those who decide to lay their weapons down and choose to love and pour out grace instead of dishing out selfishness. Anxious minds are being calmed by those who choose to rest in the Rock as their refuge, shelter and protection. Strongholds are being broken as people stand on the promises that God gives us in His Word: That we are more than conquerors... That we are dearly loved and cherished... That He has plans to prosper and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future... Promises that He will make our paths straight when we don't lean on our own understanding, but trust in Him. 

So...

Don't let the enemy use your struggles against you. Let God have them and allow Him to lift you out of whatever is brining you down. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is hope in the message of the Cross. There is encouragement and strength in the empty tomb. There is life in His Living Water.

In Him, we have victory.

Journey well.