Some years ago Child Protective Services took my 5-year-old son from me because I was addicted to drugs and alcohol. I felt at the time that I had been wronged! There were no drug allegations against me. How could they just step into my life,  give me a drug test and take my son from me? What an injustice!

To regain custody of my son I had to attend an outpatient rehab. This seemed to drag on forever. First there were no vacancies in the program. Then there was a lack of funding to get me in. Then my son’s mom was already attending so I couldn’t go at the same times as she. Just when I was giving up, I wrote these words in my journal.

“And now here I am, sober for almost two months and the world has turned on me! I knew it would happen sooner or later. Trials always manifest themselves when you try to do good. When you try to do the right thing. Even so, I continue on my path of sobriety with the hope that I will regain some of what I had lost. Only time will tell.”

One night as I was talking to my son on the phone he asked me very sincerely,”Daddy, why can’t I come home.” Through my tears I could only answer, “Because daddy has some problems.” To that my son gave me the most beautiful words I have ever heard. “Daddy, just take those problems and put them away.”

To a five-year old that’s how easy it is. Just put them away. Little did he know he was speaking straight from the Holy Scriptures.

“That you are to put away, in relation to your earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit;  And be made new in the spirit of your mind,  And put on the new man, to which God has given life, in righteousness and a true and holy way of living.” Ephesians 4:22-24

“Being conscious that our old man was put to death on the cross with him, so that the body of sin might be put away, and we might no longer be servants to sin.” Romans 6:6

And now I am here to tell you that it is that easy. God has the strength that we lack. All you have to do is make a conscious decision that what you are doing is wrong, ask God to forgive you and ask Him for Jesus Christ to fill your heart and life. “if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised  him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Now that you’ve done that please seek out a church, pastor or Christian counselor that can help you along your newfound road. Sobriety is a new journey for some of us and we need all the direction we can get!

If you don’t know where to turn please leave me a comment and I will direct you in the right direction!

God bless each and every one of you who share this struggle and my prayer for you is to accept Christ into you heart and for your continued sobriety!