Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes: A Story of Faith, Family, and Finding Hope

Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes: A Story of Faith, Family, and Finding Hope

We’ve all heard it time and time again: nothing changes if nothing changes. If something doesn’t prompt change, it simply won’t happen. Change doesn’t occur by accident, and it doesn’t come from wishing or waiting. Real change only begins when someone takes action.

The idea of evoking change isn’t new — but sometimes we need a reminder of how change actually works, and what role we play in making it happen. Change is limitless, but it’s rarely instantaneous. And while we can’t control everything, we can choose how we respond, how we grow, and how we move forward.

For families battling the effects of addiction, this kind of change is essential. When a loved one struggles, it can feel like life is stuck on repeat. Moments of heartbreak, confusion, hope, and disappointment happen again and again. It’s easy to feel powerless.

But you aren’t powerless. You have the power to shift the environment, your mindset, and your approach. 

That reminder was a great relief to Barry and Gina Copeland. 

Living with Addiction

For over 15 years, their family faced the heartbreaking challenge of their son Kyle’s battle with alcoholism. While watching him struggle to gain sobriety, Barry and Gina came to the realization that not only did Kyle need support, but they needed support as well. They were carrying deep pain, fear, and exhaustion, and they could no longer do it alone.

It was at this point in time that they connected with one of Hope is Alive’s support groups, Finding Hope. The road to Finding Hope wasn’t immediate. Like many families, Barry and Gina tried other support groups that didn’t quite click. There were groups where they felt misunderstood, disconnected, or even more discouraged. But then came Hope is Alive’s Finding Hope program, a support group designed specifically for the loved ones of addicts. There, they found not just tools and insight, but comfort. They weren’t alone anymore. There were others who understood the sleepless nights, the unanswered prayers, and the ache of watching someone you love suffer.

“It can be easy to be disappointed in yourself, be disappointed in God… Am I not praying hard enough? Do I not have enough faith? That's what Finding Hope has really brought — that clarity… this is our role in this.” —Gina Copeland

Faith Over Fear

The message of Finding Hope that resonated with Barry and Gina most is simple but powerful: nothing changes if nothing changes. As Gina says in the video, hearing those words and living those words are very different things, but if you cling to your faith and trust in God, you will get through it.

In Finding Hope, Barry and Gina found a new perspective: their role was not to fix Kyle. As much as they longed for his transformation, they realized they couldn’t want change more than he did. What they could do was care for their own hearts, lean more fully into their faith, and trust God with the outcome. That was the change they could make, and it made all the difference.

Watch the video above to see how Barry and Gina’s story is a powerful reminder that hope, healing, and peace are possible for families of addicts.