Note: This is the written version of yesterday’s video blog, which can be viewed at Faith in the Struggle’s Facebook page.
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. Acts 2:28
One terrible morning in the fall of 2014, as my wife was getting ready for the day, I sat her down and told her that I’d relapsed. She was blindsided. I’d struggled with drugs before – promising I’d never go back – but this was different. This time I was losing my job and likely my career. This time I was going to inpatient treatment. This time, my name was going to be in the paper, and everyone was going to know. Life as we knew it was over. At that moment, as far as she was concerned, our marriage was over too.
Now, nearly six years later, we genuinely enjoy each other’s company and I can truly say that we like and love one another. Where we once couldn’t imagine our marriage surviving, neither of us could now imagine not being together. How did we get from that point to this one?
Back in the calamity, while in treatment, I cried out in desperation to God. God, show me how to live differently. My way is an absolute disaster. I don’t ever want to come back here. Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. God instructed me to daily do whatever it takes to abandon my path of misery so I could follow his path of life.
So, I set out to turn around and follow God’s way. I don’t do it perfectly. Even in recovery, I’ve made painful, selfish mistakes. Daily though, I make a genuine attempt to follow God’s way instead of mine.
Thankfully, I wasn’t alone in putting life back together. My wife stuck with me and together, we began to pick up the pieces of our catastrophe. In that process, we bought a home on a cul-de-sac, which sits literally on the corner of Grace and Grace. It was a project house, which became a metaphor for our marriage. Just as we needed to demo that house down the studs to start over, we desperately needed to remodel our life together.
Like the house, our marriage wasn’t rebuilt instantly. It took time, grace, forgiveness, and effort. Looking back though, I now daily thank God for how far he’s brought us. You have made known to me the paths of life. Thankfully, God loves second chances and redemption. Thankfully, in abandoning ourselves to follow God, we can live on his beautiful grace.
Author’s Note: The new app for iPhone is finally here! The Android app has been out for a few weeks, but I’m happy to announce that you can now download, for free, Faith in the Struggle from the App store. On the App, you can find the daily blog, listen, journal, and connect with others through prayer requests. So Download the Faith in the Struggle App today!