Articles & Resources

Hope & Healing for Families of Drug Addicts and Alcoholics

Loving someone who struggles with addiction can leave you feeling isolated, helpless, and without hope. But you don’t have to walk this road alone.

The YouVersion Bible Reading Plan, Hope & Healing for Families of Drug Addicts and Alcoholics, offers encouragement, truth, and guidance for families navigating the pain of addiction. Written by Amy LaRue, Finding Hope Coordinator for Hope Is Alive, this plan points you toward God’s comfort and lasting hope.

Start the plan here: Hope & Healing for Families of Drug Addicts and Alcoholics

Hope After Loss – Leaning on God After Losing a Loved One to Addiction

Losing a loved one to addiction brings some of the deepest pain we can experience—grief, regret, and sorrow that can feel overwhelming. But even in the darkest moments, God offers comfort and healing.

This YouVersion Bible Reading Plan, Hope After Loss, is designed to help you process your grief, lean on God’s strength, and begin the journey of restoration. Written by Kris Darrah and Amy LaRue of Hope After Loss, a ministry of Hope Is Alive, this plan offers encouragement and hope for your heart.

Start the plan here: Hope After Loss – Leaning on God After Losing a Loved One to Addiction

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10 Years Sober: Taking Steps Toward Freedom | Bible Reading Plan

Ten years ago, Lance Lang was a hopeless addict, willing to use anyone or anything just to keep using. But God intervened, leading him on a miraculous journey to rehab, recovery, and restoration.

In Ten Years Sober, Lance shares his story along with powerful spiritual lessons he’s learned along the way. This 10-day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan offers practical steps and encouragement to help you reclaim your hope.

Start the plan here: 10 Years Sober: Taking Steps Toward Freedom

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10 Day Addiction Recovery Reading Plan | Hope Is Alive

Lance Lang spent ten years trapped in addiction, eventually developing a 50-pill-a-day habit—until Jesus set him free. As he walked the God-guided road of recovery, Lance shared his story in the book Hope Is Alive and later developed this powerful 10-day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan.

Journey alongside him through Scripture and find encouragement, strength, and hope for recovery from addiction.

Start the plan here: 10 Day Addiction Recovery Reading Plan | Hope Is Alive

Staying Sober and Living in Recovery: Three Ways That Worked for Me

Getting sober was nothing I really had planned. Honestly, doing drugs and staying in addiction wasn’t either.

My childhood was rocky at first, but then my grandparents adopted me and I had a pretty good life. I didn’t want for anything, my needs were met, and I had two great role models guiding my path.

Through a series of events and what I now know to be anxiety, I picked up my first use and never looked back. My nursing career went down the drain, I ended up with several felonies on my record, and I had no one to turn to in the midst of the darkness I had created.

Getting sober wasn’t hard. I was essentially forced through the Oklahoma Court System. After that, it was up to me to stay sober—and here are three ways that I did that.

1. Get in the Middle

Something my AA sponsor told me early on was to get in the middle of the crowd. By doing that, I created a barrier to the outside world of influences and surrounded myself with like-minded people who were pursuing the same goals.

I followed the ones who had gone before me and allowed them to lay my new path in front of me, helping me achieve long-term sobriety.

2. Work a Thorough and Honest Program

For a long time, I walked around telling a lot of lies—to others and to myself. After a while, I honestly didn’t know what was true and what wasn’t anymore.

As I worked through my process addiction of codependency, part of the journey was getting my story straight. I had already dismantled many of the lies in my Alcoholics Anonymous program, but I realized I was still telling myself things that were keeping me from the authentic self-love I needed.

So I got my story straight—at a gut-wrenching, honest level.

3. Say Yes to Jesus and Let His Will Take Control

I knew who God was. My grandma was a secretary at the church. I was at every function and grew up running the halls of church.

But through my addiction, I let the ruler of this world, Satan, take over. I believed his lies and went down a path of destruction.

Early in my sobriety, I was rebaptized. From that point forward, I said yes to Jesus and committed to following His will for my life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”

A New Life

These three things gave me the beautiful life I have today. I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a granddaughter again.

Jesus is my healer and guide, and I have a community of like-minded people who support me in my recovery.

I have hope today.

Philippians 4:8

“If we’ll be intentional about getting free, God will be intentional about setting us free!” Philippians 4:8

Our minds can be a battleground for the enemy. After I lost my daughter to an overdose, I tried to find things that would have been worse-case scenarios. I would tell myself that it would have been worse if Lacy had died a more painful death, etc. Out of desperation, my mind searched for anything to bring some comfort. I couldn’t reason with what had happened to her, so I tried to find ways to make her death less devastating. We must be mindful of what we are capable of while trying to find comfort outside of God's provision.

What holds us back from living in freedom, the kind of freedom that only God can provide? I’m talking about freedom from the stress and anguish that can loom over us about our future. Freedom to be bold about our faith. Freedom that allows us to find peace amid the chaos.

Are there roadblocks that keep you from this freedom? If you could name one thing in your life that has a strong hold on you, one habit that might be keeping you from this freedom in Christ, write that down. Now put that piece of paper in a fire and watch it burn up. Do this as many times as you need to. This visual will help you detach from whatever ‘thing’ that stands in your way. 

God’s word shows us that our Lord is just one step away from us, the one step we must take toward him. Psalms 145:18 tells us, “The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.”In grief I have found that I am in God’s hands and I can feel his arms around me. A life without my closest friend and only daughter has brought me to my knees daily. Because of this, I find gratitude knowing that God is so near, making Psalm 34:18 a reality for me: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

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With hope,

Rhonda Kemp, Lacy’s mother

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

The Power of Community in Recovery

Recovery is often one of the most challenging journeys an individual can embark on. It requires immense courage, commitment, and perseverance, whether someone is dealing with addiction, mental health struggles, or any form of personal hardship.

While the road to recovery may be a deeply personal experience, it does not have to be traveled alone. This is where the strength of community—and particularly a church family—comes into play.

The Role of Community in Recovery

Human beings are inherently social creatures. We thrive in environments where connection, support, and understanding are present. When an individual faces the trials of recovery, community provides a sense of belonging and understanding, breaking the isolation that often accompanies struggles.

Here are three unique benefits of community in recovery:

1. Support and Accountability

Being part of a community means having a support system where individuals can share their experiences without judgment. This support often includes friends, mentors, and even trained professionals who can provide insights and feedback.

Community also fosters accountability, encouraging individuals to stay committed to their goals and take responsibility for their actions.

2. Shared Experiences

In recovery, it’s essential to know that others have faced similar challenges. Support groups bring together individuals with shared experiences, creating an environment where they can learn from one another’s triumphs and setbacks.

This shared understanding assures individuals they are not alone in their journey and motivates them to keep pushing forward.

3. Emotional Outlets

Recovery can be an emotional rollercoaster, filled with joy, sadness, frustration, and hope. Community offers a safe space to express these emotions.

In supportive settings, individuals can talk through their feelings and challenges, reducing feelings of loneliness and despair.

The Unique Role of a Church Family

While community at large plays a crucial role in recovery, the specific support offered by a church family holds unique benefits that can help individuals heal spiritually, emotionally, and socially.

1. Spiritual Guidance

Many find that combining recovery with spiritual growth can lead to transformative healing. Church families offer spiritual guidance, encouraging individuals to seek a deeper relationship with their faith.

This spiritual dimension can provide the strength and resilience needed to overcome hardships.

2. Unconditional Love and Acceptance

Church communities are often built on the foundations of love, grace, and acceptance. For individuals in recovery, this is especially important.

A church family can provide a nurturing environment where individuals feel valued and accepted, regardless of their past. This unconditional love serves as a reminder that everyone is worthy of compassion and forgiveness.

3. Opportunities for Service and Engagement

Being active in a church community can be incredibly therapeutic. Individuals often find great value in serving others or engaging in community projects.

This not only helps shift the focus away from personal struggles but also fosters a sense of purpose. Contributing to the well-being of others can be profoundly healing.

4. Education and Resources

Many churches recognize the challenges faced by those in recovery and provide resources, programs, or support groups tailored to those needs.

These programs often offer education on managing stress, coping strategies, and understanding the dynamics of recovery.

Building Connection and Trust

Creating lasting connections within a church family doesn’t happen overnight. Building trust and rapport takes time, but doing so can be incredibly beneficial in recovery.

Engage actively in church events—join a small group, attend services, or volunteer for church functions. Each interaction is an opportunity to establish bonds and feel part of something greater.

Participating in prayer groups or Bible studies can deepen understanding of faith and fellowship. Sharing personal experiences in these settings—when comfortable—can foster vulnerability and connection, ensuring individuals feel seen and heard.

Overcoming Barriers

Individuals in recovery may face internal barriers that hinder their ability to engage with a community, including feelings of shame, guilt, or fear of judgment. Recognizing these barriers and confronting them is crucial.

Healthy church families have a remarkable capacity for compassion and understanding. Many church leaders are trained to handle sensitive issues and can serve as allies in overcoming these challenges.

If a particular church doesn’t feel like the right fit, it’s important to remember that community can be found in many forms—support groups focused on recovery, faith-based organizations, or even online communities. What matters most is surrounding yourself with people who uplift and encourage growth.

Conclusion

In the intricate tapestry of recovery, community stands out as a vital thread. The support found in both secular and spiritual environments—particularly within a church family—provides a foundation for healing, growth, and transformation.

Recovery is undoubtedly a personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. By embracing the power of community and the invaluable guidance of a church family, individuals can forge a path toward a brighter, more fulfilling future grounded in love, acceptance, and hope.

Whether you are currently on your recovery journey or supporting someone who is, remember that connection is a powerful tool. Lean into your community, nurture those relationships, and experience the profound impact they can have in turning the struggle of recovery into a shared journey of healing.

This last weekend Tammy Posey, Hope After Loss co-leader, shared about WHY she participates in our annual Run For Hope and the impact Hope After Loss is having on her grief journey. Read what she shared:

“I’m Tammy Posey, I’m a co-leader and volunteer for Hope After Loss. 

I’m here today for a few reasons:

1. To honor, remember and celebrate those that lost their life to addiction. This includes my youngest son, Ben. He lost his long, hard-fought battle in January, 2017, at the young age of 28.
2. I’m here to support the two Hope is Alive support groups; Finding Hope and Hope After Loss, as well as recognize the family members and friends that are part of these groups.
3. I want to celebrate those of you here that are in Recovery! Please know I truly understand how much effort and dedication it takes and what an accomplishment you’ve achieved just one day at a time.
4. I’m here to tell you about the impact Hope After Loss has had on me personally, which is nothing short of extraordinary.

The grief I experienced due to Ben’s death was devastating. I lost myself and struggled daily. I tried to focus on just doing the next right thing. I tried a few support groups but just never felt like I fit in.  

In Spring 2022, a sweet friend invited me to the first Hope After Loss meeting in Oklahoma City. I attended and I knew almost immediately that I had finally found the faith-based place where I belonged! I found Hope—the hope I had lost in 2017.

The Hope After Loss group members are awesome!  

• They understand and are compassionate.
• There is no judgment or shame.
• Ben and all our lost loved ones are recognized as the good people they are and not just statistics.
• I am accepted as a mom who loves and grieves her son.
• There are tears, but there’s also laughter.
• The healing that occurs is personal, gradual, quiet, and at the same time amazing.
• I’ve found friendships that are everlasting and built on an unspoken bond.
• The stories that are shared of renewed and deepened faith, resilience, kindness, and determination inspire all of us.

Hope After Loss has helped me find my sense of optimism, confidence, and hope in the future.

The focus I struggled with so long ago has evolved to focus and determination to do the next right thing. And I do so now with purpose, strength, and with a voice for change.

I live for me, my family and friends, and for the future Ben will never see.

I know Ben is proud of me for staying close and involved in the recovery community and for my efforts towards making a difference. However, I still miss him every. Single. Day.

I truly believe God put things and people into place so I would be introduced to Hope After Loss at the time when I needed it the most. From my heart to yours, thank you for being here, thank you for supporting this incredible organization, and I encourage you to try a meeting soon!”

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

From Brokenness to Hope: The Story of Trevor Mathis

Before coming to Hope is Alive, I was a broken human who had no purpose to live or pursue life anymore. Here is what my life looked like before and after.

Before

Before getting sober, I was in turmoil. I had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. For over eight years, drugs and alcohol were my higher power. There was not a single person in this world I wouldn’t trade just to get high or drunk.

I felt so alone and depressed. I grew up in a wonderful home filled with love, but when I was four years old, I lost my mom to a battle with cancer. That was my “black hole” moment. I used that loss to fuel every negative action in my life for the next 18 years.

I constantly got into trouble, always being suspended or kicked out of school. By high school, I was drinking and using drugs every day. The only thing I wanted was to get high with my friends.

I was selfish and only did things that benefitted me. By the end of 2020, I was without any good relationships. No one wanted to be around me because of my actions and choices. I was devastated, hopeless, and completely consumed by addiction.

After

One call changed my life. In the middle of the night, I called my mom and dad crying for help. That was the day everything shifted. They picked me up and drove me to a rehab facility the very next day.

After 45 days there, I made the decision to go to sober living. The only place that stood out to me was Hope is Alive. I was hesitant to pack up and move to another state without knowing a single person, but I knew I did not want to get high anymore.

I was scared and uncertain, but entering the Hope is Alive program was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was taught what real recovery and real sobriety looked like. I was welcomed with love and shown how to live life in a principled way.

Not every day was easy, but it was always better than chasing my next drug or drink. The men I lived with wanted the same thing I did: a better life.

I spent the next three years working on myself and helping others find what I had found. Sober living changed my life forever, and I am deeply grateful.

A Word to the Hopeless

For anyone out there who feels hopeless or doesn’t know what to do, get into a place like Hope is Alive and start working on yourself.

Sober living works—if you work it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Through the loss of my son, I have mourned so heavily for many days, hours, weeks, months and years. Minute by minute in the beginning, I never knew what the next moment would bring. I wanted him back and to change what had happened. I wanted to start over because I just knew this was my fault. I lived in denial, I begged and pleaded with God to change my course and somehow make him live again. I told myself I had nothing to live for, it was just so hard. 

I know grief feels and is different for everyone, but I think we all suffer that feeling after losing someone we love so much to addiction. 

Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

In this short passage, the author of Ecclesiastes gives us so much to think about. The good and the bad, we are all born, and we all must die; this is life as we know it and we can’t change any of this. I brought my children into this world and I did the best I could with the knowledge I had. I can’t change that either, but one day, one week, one month, one year later, I feel like their death is up to me.

Ecclesiastes 3:5 says there is “a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, at time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.”

Right after Jordan’s death, I blamed myself and everyone else for him being gone; he wouldn’t have overdosed if I had been a better parent, if he had better friends, if his girlfriend had shown him more attention, if if if. My thoughts were scattered and it was time for me to gather myself and my thoughts and bring them to reality. I needed to embrace God and what He had for me, but I wasn’t sure how.

Ecclesiastes 3:6-7 says there is “a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.”

What do these verses say to you? I needed to search for a way to forgive myself and think more clearly. Did you supply your loved ones with the tools to harm themselves? No. Do we need to keep beating our thoughts and ourselves up? No. Do we need to fix our hearts on a life we are meant to have? Yes. How can we do that? God wants us to be joyful.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 says there is “a time to love and a time to hate.”

We need to love ourselves first and look at ourselves as Jesus looks at us. He saved us from the sin we create. What the author means by “a time to hate” is to hate the sin, to hate what brought our loved one to destruction. Not them, not God, and not ourselves. We are an image of God; we need to delight in ourselves and the love He gave us.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-12 asks, “What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.”

As hard as it is to possibly fathom we all have a time to live, does it do your heart and your mind good to question your actions all the time? I have found trusting in God gets me through day to day, as hard as it can be at times. As parents or loved ones, we tend to question constantly: But if… What if… 

That brings me to this: God has made everything beautiful in its time. We all have a time, we don’t know how long, but we can make our time better by being good to ourselves, loving each other, and finding something to heal our hearts. What can you imagine or are you doing in the name of your loved one? Speak their name in some form by doing a good deed, maybe even saying to the person or just to yourself, ”This is for my loved one that I lost and I’m paying it forward.”

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 says, “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will the the past to account.”

And Proverbs 3:7 tells us, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.”

This is what I have learned through my journey: being angry at myself or God through the loss of my loved one only harms me and my family. Yes, we all have moments of sheer grief—take them to cry or scream—but the minute you are done, go to the Word. God will take your pain from you and turn it into compassion, love, acceptance and mercy. 

In closing, I want you to journal your grief, if you don’t already, and talk to someone who understands you and your journey. Be mindful that this is a process that doesn’t leave us; it just changes us, and I am praying for the better.

God bless you.

Cindy Bowling, Jordan’s mother

You’re Worth It | 3 Reasons to Hold On in Early Sobriety

The early days of sobriety can be dark, and it can be hard to understand why you still endure so much pain. You’ve made the tough decision to enter into recovery, so why is there still so much anxiety and bitterness on this side of sobriety?

Every addict has different reasons for leaving old ways behind and following the new way of recovery, but at the root of it all should be this one, unselfish truth:

You’re worth it.

With that in mind, here are three reasons to reinforce that truth. Hold these in front of you. Remind yourself of them. Because you’re worth it.

1. You Owe It to Yourself to Be Healthy

God created humans to be healthy people. This doesn’t mean you’re supposed to spend your entire life doing cardio and eating salads (though those things can help in moderation!). It means that God desires you to be healthy and whole in your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual life.

You’ll never be perfect, but you will grow when you strive to become healthier and healthier in as many ways as you can.

When you acknowledge this truth, you can more easily endure the difficult journey to your healthier self. You can keep the reminder in front of your eyes: YOU ARE WORTH IT.

All this pain, all this toil, and all this work you’re doing? It’s worth it—because you’re worth it.

2. You’re Meant to Have a Positive Impact on the World

God created humans with a love for the world around us, and that love isn’t limited to just friends and family. Everyone is called to care for others.

But there’s a catch. In Mark 12:31, Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

You are called to love your neighbors as yourself. But if you don’t love yourself, then what will your love for your neighbors look like? If you hate yourself, treat yourself poorly, or shortchange yourself, then that’s the kind of love you’ll extend to others.

This isn’t about being selfish. Those days are over—that’s why you’re in recovery! Loving yourself is another way of reminding yourself that you’re worth it. And when you can do that well, you’ll have a lasting, positive impact on your neighbors and the wider world.

3. God Says So

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son…” (John 3:16)

“I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters…” (2 Corinthians 6:18)

“He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

Scripture is packed with verse after verse about how God feels about you. He loves you with an incredible, grace-filled, sacrificial love that you did absolutely nothing to earn or deserve.

Do you know why God loves you? Because he wants to. Because he made you. That’s it.

This is the kind of love where the God of the Universe looks you in the eye and says, “You’re worth this.”

God loves you, no matter what you’ve done or will do. That alone makes you worth it.

Keep Going

Don’t give up. You have his love.

You’re worth it.

Lessons from Psalm 119 | Finding Healing After Loss

This chapter, the longest in the Bible and very informative, is the one I studied last month for my Bible Study.

I was unlike many of you after the loss of my son: I struggled with anger at God. Through almost nine years of this journey, I’ve spoken to many people who have felt God with them in their grief. I love hearing your stories of where He was with you.

Seven Attributes of God in Psalm 119

Psalm 119 highlights seven positive attributes of God:

• Righteousness
• Trustworthiness
• Truthfulness
• Faithfulness
• Unchangeableness
• Eternality
• Light

Humans are unable to change our hearts on our own; working alone, we can’t possibly fix our faults. I know this to be true.

For three years, I struggled with anger, depression, sadness, and darkness. I am not saying I wanted to follow Satan, but I did believe God didn’t love me as much as He loved others. If He had, then my son would have been healed from his addiction to heroin and wouldn’t have died.

“Open My Eyes”

In verse 18, the author of Psalm 119 says to God, “Open my eyes.”

Right after Jordan passed, I didn’t want my eyes open—I wanted to keep them shut. Looking back, I can understand that it was because I was in denial. I didn’t want to see the truth.

Verse 27 says, “Make me understand.” At that time, if I had truly understood what happened, I would have been forced to face the reality and begin healing from my loss.

“Enlarge My Heart”

Verse 32 says, “Enlarge my heart.”

For me, that meant acceptance. I felt like I had lost a piece of my heart when Jordan left this earth. In reality, we do lose a piece of ourselves when we lose someone we love. But with God walking beside us, we can heal from our loss and work to help others.

Choosing Trust in God

I now know that God is Righteous, Trustworthy, Truthful, Faithful, Unchangeable, Eternal, and that He is our Light. I can’t go back, but I am forever grateful to have learned these truths.

When I have a bad day, I pray and trust that God will continue to heal me.

Scripture That Brings Me Comfort

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” — Psalm 119:10

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” — Psalm 119:18

— Cindy Bowling, Jordan’s mother