A little bit of my testimony. I was addicted to meth for nearly 8 years. I used daily and would stay awake for 6 to 12 days at a time. I thought I was hiding it well and may have been at first but people knew. Friends, family members, co-workers… I was becoming the substance instead of myself. I tried to quit, but it was the people in that world that I was addicted to as much as the substance.
After I had been married for about 6 months, I lost my job of nearly 3 years. In 3 years the substance that kept me going through the OT, the rotating shifts, and the physical demand had watched me get promoted twice, then I was demoted, and eventually fired. Those individuals I hung out with (not all of them, but a large majority of them) weren’t there for me after I was unemployed and broke. They only needed me when I could provide some service or financial gain.
I had a few gigs after that but nothing lasting more than a few weeks (some only a few days). I couldn’t stop chasing the substance. I finally got a minimum wage part time job at Autozone (I knew nothing about automotive parts mind you) and finally came the first real paycheck I had earned in months. I was so happy to bring this home to my wife that I did not notice all of my belongings on the front porch. I had been lying to her about staying clean. I had been discovered. I was angry, not that this was happening but that I had gotten caught.
She wouldn’t divorce me, even though she was well within her rights to do so. But I couldn’t stay there. I messed up big time to say the least. But in the end, love always wins. My uncle sat down with me and as we both cried he told me we would get through this together. I was on lockdown at 29 years only going from home to work. I went through withdrawals in a mighty way. I quit cold turkey, stopped associating with anyone still using. I had to cut ties with the lifestyle, and that involved cutting ties with some genuinely good people who were trapped just like I was. I wasn’t mad at them, I just knew the only way out was to avoid until I was strong enough and wise enough to never put myself in a position to use again.
That was over 10 years ago. Opportunities have arisen and trials and temptations have come my way but I am clean. I did not see one day in rehab (not saying rehab is bad and if that’s what it takes to help then please do so). But I saw myself in church as much as possible. And in the Bible as much as possible. And in prayer as much as possible.
That Autozone gig led way to a similar Walmart gig. Walmart into management. Then I was running a Tractor Supply. Now I run IT for 1/3 of the country for one of the largest food manufacturers in the United States.
What changed? One word. Repent.
Repent means to change your mindset. And of all the scripture in the Bible one stood out above all others in this difficult time: Matthew 6:33- “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Have a blessed day.