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“How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute and hopelessness?” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 153
“Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:5
For what it’s worth: The despair was unbearable. Memories of its anguish are still vivid. I was suicidal and without hope that hot day in August of 1974 when I first walked into a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. There was no way I could have ever imagined rising out of my misery. Witnessing others share their experiences, however, offered me a ray of hope. Still though, I was in disbelief the first time I realized the doom and gloom had lifted. It was only for a moment, but I knew the hopelessness was gone. As I stayed sober one day at a time, attending meetings and practicing AA Principles, moments turned to hours and the hours to days, and in varying degrees I began to live with hope. Now it is a way of life. More importantly, I increasingly came to know the One Who gave me this precious gift. My Heavenly Father saved me and taught me through my own experiences in sobriety that as long as I am close to Him, no matter what happens, even horribly painful, I will have hope. |
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