Recently I had a heart felt conversation with a gentleman who is in the grips of battle with alcohol and drugs. He said to me there are times when he feels so crushed by the weight of his addiction that he will never be able to crawl from underneath it. As I listened to his story tears filled my eyes and sadness filled my heart all I could do was hug him. As we stood there embraced feeling each others pain tears streaming from our eyes I could remember my trails and how I felt helpless. For me it was so not much the addiction that hurt me the most , it was more the fact that I had fallen in my life and I could not get up. The weight of my failure kept me down. And the shame of my failure lead me back to my original failure. Classic work of the accuser. I knew in my heart that my brother in my arms felt the same way, just as I know that all my family reading this now have felt that same pain at one point in their lives. As I struggled to give this man an answer The Lord gave me one to share with everyone.

Sometimes when we stumble and fall, we think that we will never be able to get up again. And yet, Jesus has us all firmly in His loving hands all the time. In times of pain and hardship Lean on Him and let Him lift you back on your feet. Never stay down.


From Patrick an apostle on special assignment for Jesus our living hope.