Drug Abuse
"A setback is an opportunity for a comeback!"
- Cindy Bultema
Cindy’s childhood was filled with verbal abuse from playmates, along with growing up with a father who didn’t seem to care about her. It was easy for her to accept the names they called her as her identity, which quickly destroyed her self-esteem. She tried to pretend everything was ok, but there was a void in her life that she couldn’t fill. As she entered into adulthood, it was no surprise that she tried to fill this void with alcohol, food, men, shopping, and drugs.
She started hanging out with friends at bars and one day realized she was pregnant. Even though she was frightened and alone, she decided to keep the baby. Shame and guilt set in along with an intense feeling of loneliness. She reached out to her friends for help, and they introduced her to a world full of drugs. When Cindy realized she wanted to stop, she found that she couldn’t.
One day, she overdosed on the drugs and nearly died. She wanted to change but had no clue how to do it until a lady that Cindy admired said four words to her, “Cindy, you need Jesus.” With those words, her life began to change. Recognizing the need for freedom from her current lifestyle, she completely changed her surroundings. She began attending a local church, and with the help of a mentor, she made new and better decisions about her life.
Cindy still went through occasional times of feeling pain, fear, weakness, and numbness, and some days wanted to give up, but she learned to cling to God’s words and accept His truth about her no matter how she felt. Through it all, she discovered that a setback was an opportunity for a comeback!
Today, Cindy is free from all forms of addictions and abuse. God’s Word is always the final answer!
If you are struggling with drug abuse, here are some points to consider:
- Hold on to hope.
- Be honest with how you feel.
- Ask for help from people that want the best for you.
- Be open to letting others into your life to help you.
- Find a Bible believing Church and attend.
- Find a mentor. You do not have to journey alone.
- Be Prayerful.
Words to Live By:
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” Romans 8:37 (NKJV).
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” John 8:36 (NKJV).
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV).
Dr. Ron’s Perspective:
Mental health professionals often say that the past is the best predictor of future behavior. Childhood and teenage life experiences do shape our personalities and our view of the world and ourselves. Family dysfunction, abuse, neglect, and broken relationships can lead to a pattern of struggle and heartache. Hopelessness and despair can eventually set in and become a way of living. Childhood hurts can negatively affect a person’s self-esteem and self-worth, but difficult childhood does not have to keep one from feeling happy and discovering their purpose in life. The past does not have to define your character. We must choose to either let the past be a roadblock to success or use “life’s hard knocks” to grow us and enable us to help other hurting people. Identify a person that could benefit from your wisdom and experiences. Reach out to them and show understanding and compassion. This step alone will go a long way in helping you feel better about yourself.
Grace Notes by Philip Yancey
“Many people find that a persistent temptation, even an addiction, is the very wound that causes them to turn in desperation to God, so that the wound forms a beginning point for new creation” (84).
Recommended Resources:
Celebrate Recovery
Emerge Counseling Services
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Teen Challenge
Cindy Bultema’s Website
Red Hot Faith – Cindy Bultema
