Helpless?

"I feel like I'm coming out of my skin," she said through her tears. She had been off morphine for almost three days...a physical feat akin running a marathon and a mental feat akin to being locked in a closet for an indeterminate amount of time. The problem was Alex (an alias) had a doctor that had her doped up for more than 8 months. She was involved in a serious car accident which led to major surgeries, and the morphine was utilized to control Alex's pain. More than 8 months using a powerfully prescribed medicine and now she had to quit; but by now she had become physically dependent. Without the morphine Alex was helpless and hurting, yet, with the drug she was zoned out and useless. Not good choices. That was a week ago.

What a difference seven days can make (God created the world in less). So, last night, Alex sat with some very messed, broken, incomplete people and with a smile that betrayed the victory within she said, "I've been morphine free for more than ten days..." You could tell that she wanted to yell it. It was as if her prison bonds had been broken, her iron chains removed. Everyone clapped and cheered.
"God is good!"
"You're in the right place!"
"You can do it!"
"Keep coming back!"

After our Overcomer's Meeting, there was more encouragement as well as a few, "I know those feelings. What you're doing is hard work, but necessary. If you need anything..."

What was truly amazing to me about that sixty minutes on Wednesday was...well, there was a whole lot of things:
*one guy - who rarely shares - told of how this group of "sickee's" rallied around him after his 2 yr old son died; all without his asking to be surrounded with emotional support. He never had experienced community love and concern like that...
*another girl spoke of how she was learning to not play the victim any longer. She no longer acted like the, "blubbering, crying, blaming," wife - laying all the problems at the feet of her drug abusing, alcohol using - but now sober - husband. (Yes, he was a problem...but she no longer will ever play the role of victim.)
*one fella talked about....
*one girl shared...
[Oh, the stories were/are grand and full of hope and there were many transformational testimonies on just this one night.]

Anyway, one of the amazing things about Alex's story and situation is this: In a world and culture of judgment, condemnation, false pride, and self-righteousness, she felt free to come to a church class, on a Wednesday Night, and tell some of her most intimate struggles. She's addicted to prescription drugs and - GET THIS - she came to church for help. She came and sat with a group of people who've walked a similar path, people who've been there. She came helpless, looking for hope from God. Alex came hurting and in need of healing, and last night she sat in a room, and by her presence - testified that God still does miracles.