“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”— Psalm 34:18 Some days, our hearts don’t just feel heavy—they feel shattered. Maybe it’s grief, addiction, guilt, family struggles, loneliness, or that quiet ache that shows up for no clear reason at all. On those days, it’s easy to believeContinue reading “Verse of the Day: God Is Close to the Brokenhearted”
Tag Archives: joy
You’re Not Alone: Why I Started Writing for People Who Are Struggling
I didn’t start writing because my life was perfect.I started writing because it almost ended. For a long time, I lived in a world where pain felt louder than hope. Alcohol was my escape, depression was my roommate, PTSD whispered lies in my ear, and loneliness wrapped around me like a heavy blanket. I’d lookContinue reading “You’re Not Alone: Why I Started Writing for People Who Are Struggling”
Depression Hits Different During the Holidays
The holidays are supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” right? That’s what the movies say. That’s what social media shows. That’s what the commercials keep telling us—big smiling families, matching pajamas, perfect dinners, kids ripping open gifts around a glowing tree. But for a lot of us, that’s not reality. AndContinue reading “Depression Hits Different During the Holidays”
Verse for the Day – 1 Corinthians 15:57
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:57 Some days, the word victory feels far away. We wake up tired, worn out, or already stressed before our feet even hit the floor. Old habits tug at us. Anxiety, depression, anger, or cravings try toContinue reading “Verse for the Day – 1 Corinthians 15:57”
When God Feels Silent but Isn’t
A snowy Sunday kept me home watching church on TV, but the message still hit deep—especially with Miss Twila bringing the service. She shared the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, reminding us that God hears our prayers, works in what feels impossible, and is never done writing our stories. This post is about holding onto hope, even when it feels like nothing is changing.
When Your Brain Says “Do More” and Your Soul Says “Please Stop”
There’s a battle a lot of us know too well. Your brain says: But deep down, your soul is whispering: That tension isn’t laziness. It’s exhaustion. It’s trauma. It’s burnout. It’s your inner life begging for mercy while your old wiring keeps yelling, “Try harder!” The Lie of “If I Do Enough, I’ll Finally FeelContinue reading “When Your Brain Says “Do More” and Your Soul Says “Please Stop””
Managing My Anger: Learning Not to Explode First
Anger has always been one of my hardest battles. I don’t just “get annoyed”—I can go from calm to ready-to-snap in about two seconds if I’m not careful. Sometimes it’s over big things, but if I’m honest, it’s often over little stuff: a text that sounds off, someone cutting me off in conversation, plans changingContinue reading “Managing My Anger: Learning Not to Explode First”
Learning to Sleep Again: How Rest Became Part of My Recovery
For a long time, I treated sleep like an optional suggestion. If I was exhausted, anxious, doom-scrolling my phone, or replaying old mistakes in my head, I’d just say, “I’ll be fine. I don’t need that much sleep anyway.” Then I’d drag myself through the next day on caffeine, sugar, and pure anxiety. Spoiler: IContinue reading “Learning to Sleep Again: How Rest Became Part of My Recovery”
Living with ADHD: How Medication and Therapy Help Me Show Up to My Own Life
I didn’t wake up one day and suddenly “get” ADHD. It’s been with me my whole life—long before I had a name for it. Looking back, I can see it in the half-finished projects, the “I’ll do it later” that turned into never, the report cards that said “smart, but doesn’t focus.” I always thoughtContinue reading “Living with ADHD: How Medication and Therapy Help Me Show Up to My Own Life”
Christ the King Sunday: Who Has My Allegiance?
Today’s service started like a lot of Sundays do—kids heading out with Miss Twila and the others, ushers coming forward, the offering plates moving up and down the rows. But underneath all the usual church motions, there was a theme that kept coming back around: Who really has my allegiance? Who is my King? AContinue reading “Christ the King Sunday: Who Has My Allegiance?”
God of Second Chances (and Third, and Twentieth)
There were so many nights I thought, Well, that’s it. I’ve blown it for good this time. You know those moments—the ones where you’ve messed up so badly that even you don’t want to look in the mirror. The ones where you’re sure God has finally had enough. Where you’re convinced you used up yourContinue reading “God of Second Chances (and Third, and Twentieth)”
Inner Peace and Love: Learning to Breathe Again
There’s a different kind of quiet than just “no noise.” It’s that calm that shows up in your chest when you finally stop fighting yourself. That’s inner peace. And most of the time, it’s built on one thing we forget to give ourselves: love. Not the movie kind of love. Not the fake social mediaContinue reading “Inner Peace and Love: Learning to Breathe Again”
Faith and Recovery – Why I Need Both
I used to think I had to pick one lane. Either I was going to be “the church guy” who just prayed harder…or “the recovery guy” who just went to meetings and did the steps. Now I know the truth:I need both.If I drop either one—my faith or my recovery—things start slipping fast. Church: RememberingContinue reading “Faith and Recovery – Why I Need Both”
Gratitude When Life Still Hurts
Holidays are funny.You see all the pictures online—matching pajamas, smiling kids, big family dinners—and it looks like everyone else is living inside a Christmas movie. Meanwhile, some of us are just trying to make it through the day without breaking down. If that’s you, I want you to know this: you’re not broken because gratitudeContinue reading “Gratitude When Life Still Hurts”
If I Perish, I Perish: How a Sunday Sermon Challenged My Faith and Recovery
Walking into church this morning, it felt like one of those Sundays where the air is already charged before the first song ends. Kids heading one way, ushers moving the other, people shuffling bulletins and coffee cups, “Amen” and “Hallelujah” bouncing around the room. Just a normal Sunday… until it isn’t. Today we walked throughContinue reading “If I Perish, I Perish: How a Sunday Sermon Challenged My Faith and Recovery”
Twenty-Four Hours a Day Monday Mar 20
Thought for the Day When we were drinking, we used to worry about the future. Worry is terrible mental punishment. What’s going to become of me? Where will I end up? In the gutter or the sanitarium? We can see ourselves slipping, getting worse and worse, and we wonder what the finish will be. SometimesContinue reading “Twenty-Four Hours a Day Monday Mar 20”
Twenty-Four Hours a Day Friday Mar 17
AAA Thought for the Day A.A. also helps us to hang onto sobriety. By having regular meetings so that we can associate with other alcoholics who have come through that same door in the wall, by encouraging us to tell the story of our own sad experiences with alcohol, and by showing us how toContinue reading “Twenty-Four Hours a Day Friday Mar 17”
Be Equipped for Recovery
If you want to be healed, make a commitment right now to begin the process of grieving. Take steps forward, even when you have to force yourself. These daily devotions introduce you to the tools you need for working through the process of grieving. We want you to be equipped for recovery. You may feelContinue reading “Be Equipped for Recovery”
YOU {R} NOT ALONE YOU HAVE A VOICE! 