These are HARD times. For many, MANY people, these are THE HARDEST times we have ever faced. It is natural to feel forgotten, alone, hopeless. It really may seem like all of society seems to has decided that your downfall is acceptable. That you pain and suffering is inconsequential, and that your life doesn’t matter. You are nothing but collateral damage.
It’s a LIE.
I’ve been dreaming about being drunk. Literally. I know that people are having unusual and vivid dreams because of the coronavirus situation, and I think that my subconscious brain is fantasizing about getting drunk for several reasons
I feel out of control.
I’m yearning for a way to escape this reality.
I’m wishing for a return to an earlier time, when life was simple and I could be irresponsible.
Thanks to God, these are not happy, fun drunk dreams. They are realistic. They are sloppy, messy, dysfunctional, stumbling, incoherent, dead-beat drunk dreams. The kind of drunk you regret. The kind that leads you to sobriety.
Maybe these drunk dreams are a gift to remind me why I don’t drink. A harsh look at the reality of my past prevents me from seeking out formerly desirable but destructive coping devices. God meets me in my sleep and sends a clear message – going back is NOT a winning option, no matter how bad I think I want it right now.
I know how it feels to want to escape. Escape from your house, your kids, your marriage, your Zoom schedule. I know how it feels to look at the week’s schedule loaded up with all of the things that make life hard, and none of the things that make it fun. But going back is not an option – we have to keep going forward – one day, one hour, one minute at a time.
I am thankful that I had tools in place to deal with crises and my own self-destructive tendencies before this present crisis began. Many of us in recovery have been dealing with one crisis after another most of our lives. This is a time where we can shine a light in the present darkness. We can light the path through the dark and unknown for our friends and loved ones who have never had to navigate these intense feelings, this life of chaos, a world that seems to be totally out of control.
If this is all new to you, welcome to the hard reality that you are not in control. You really never were. But don’t worry – it’s a good thing!
Recovery Step 1. We admitted that we were powerless, and that our lives had become unmanageable.
Letting go of control is liberating! All the time and energy spent working to manage and curate life is an endless cause of stress and exhaustion! But there are a couple more steps to take before you get that freedom.
Step 2. Came to believe that God could restore me to sanity.
Step 3. Made a decision to turn my life and will over to the care of God.
In short: I can’t control this. I believe that God can. I will let Him.
I can’t. God can. I’ll let Him. 1,2,3,repeat. 1,2,3,repeat. 1,2,3,repeat.
This is the 1-2-3 waltz to sanity.
God sees you. He knew you before he formed you in the womb, and he has numbered your days . He knows the hairs on your head, the desires of your heart, and NOTHING can separate you from His love! There is NO condemnation in Christ, and through Him you are set free. (Romans 8:1-2) We are liberated when we know, when we CHOOSE to believe, that God is all-knowing and all-loving, that He has power over everything, and that He keeps His promises!
These are HARD times. For many, MANY people, these are THE HARDEST times we have ever faced. It is natural to feel forgotten, alone, hopeless. It really may seem like all of society seems to has decided that your downfall is acceptable. That you pain and suffering is inconsequential, and that your life doesn’t matter. You are nothing but collateral damage.
It’s a LIE. It all matters. You matter. To God, and to His people, EVERY PERSON MATTERS.
You are loved with an everlasting love, and God has put people on this earth who long to stand beside you to fight this battle, to lock arms with you so that neither will fall into darkness alone. (Ephesians 4:9-11). You just have to choose to let yourself be loved – by God, and by people.
Want more prayer power in your life? Want to find freedom and contentment in all circumstances? Join our Finding Freedom prayer group! Meeting on Zoom every Monday night. https://charmainerusin.com/register-here/
Scriptures To Explore (Referenced in this post)
- Romans 8:27, 37, 38-39 (I recommend reading the whole chapter!)
- Matthew 10:30
- Matthew 22:39
- Jeremiah 1:5
Charmaine Rusin 