From Rock Bottom to the Mountain Top
by Tracy Gordon
“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” –1 Peter 5:10
Recently, our family celebrated my wonderful father’s 80th birthday. It was such a special time gathering with family and friends and honoring Dad’s goodness. As I was preparing the blessing I was going to give at Dad’s party, I reflected back to his rock bottom moment that happened almost 10 years ago.
You see, Dad had a drinking problem. This was an on-and-off problem for many years and when he drank, his personality changed and not for the better. It was hard to talk to Dad about this as he didn’t see the problem that was happening. One day, I decided to pour my heart out in a letter to him. I told him that I missed my wonderful dad because the alcohol changed him into someone I didn’t know; that he was jeopardizing family relationships and that I was here to help him be better.
He really took the letter to heart and told me how much it meant to him, then he began to really make some changes. Unfortunately, it didn’t last and he was back to his old ways. I prayed that God would somehow give Dad the strength and awareness he needed to choose for himself to sober up. Eventually, something scary happened and he was about to lose so much. He had hit his ‘rock bottom’ moment and was ready to make some changes. I was thrilled, not because he hit rock bottom, but because I knew that God could restore him if he allowed Him to and this was the first step.
I was worried that Dad could not do this on his own, so I tried to get him to attend Celebrate Recovery at PLC. I thought this would be perfect, but Dad really wanted to try going cold turkey on his own. I decided that if I couldn’t get Dad to go to Celebrate Recovery where I knew God would show up in big ways, then I would need to send God to him every day. So, every morning I would text Dad a different scripture in hopes that it would be the strength, encouragement, and hope that he needed from the One who could truly heal him. Dad would tell me how powerful the messages of scripture were and how each one came on the most appropriate day, giving him exactly what he needed to make it through that day and stay strong.
I am so proud of my father and his strength and resilience, as he has been sober now for almost 10 years. Hallelujah! In 1 Peter 5:10, Peter tells all Christians, “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” Earlier in the chapter, he tells us to be sober, vigilant, and watchful as the strong holds of the devil can prowl like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He says we must resist the devil by remaining steadfast in the faith, knowing there will be suffering but that God will bring restoration and strength. By giving up control and allowing God to work through him, my dad was able to find freedom from himself. His life had descended into chaos and he realized he couldn’t control anything by his own power.
The Holy Spirit invites us to live with clear minds and open eyes, not so we can catch every mistake, but so we can catch every moment of grace. Because the same God who warns us about the enemy also equips us with His power. He doesn’t leave us alone in the wilderness; He walks with us through it. As we stay alert to His presence, we become less controlled by our cravings and more controlled by His calling. Peter ends this section of his letter not with panic, but with peace. That’s the heart of this fight; not just avoidance, but restoration. Not just staying sober, but growing strong.
The Lord wants more for you than a sin-free day. He wants a soul that’s steady, a heart that’s focused, and a life that’s available for what truly matters. So today, choose awareness over autopilot. Choose presence over passivity. The world will keep trying to distract you, but repent and the Spirit will give you the ultimate power to break the strong holds that bind you. Freedom is there for the taking and His name is Jesus.
Father God, I pray for those struggling with addictions or strong holds of any kind. I pray that they would be encouraged through Your Word, prayer, and people to walk beside them. Convict them of their wrongs and give them wise council to stop. We know that only You can break these chains if only we allow it. Lord, You have called us to be sober-minded, clearly thinking, and alert to what really matters. Help us notice the moments when we are drifting and gently draw us back. Thank You, Jesus for being by our side and bringing us to full restoration so that we can live the abundant lives You have intended for us. In Your name we pray, Amen.