Finding sobriety through faith: Carla’s story
I've been a Christian for almost 37 years, a wife, a mother of two children, and a grandmother to three. The Lord has truly blessed me. My faith is the underpinning of all I do. Although walking in faith does have its ups and downs, spiritual growth brings with it struggles and pain. But when you walk through that pain or struggle, trusting God all the way through, there is so much peace, joy, and blessing on the other side. Matthew 19:26 says, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Let me share with you my story…
I have always tried taking care of myself physically. I worked out at 5:30 at least three times a week before my husband went to work. My diet wasn't bad, although I did have my fair share of processed foods, and I drank. My weight would fluctuate up and down, and when I didn't know how to process my emotions, I would binge eat or not eat at all. This went on for years until I reached my 40s. I was at a point in my life where I was questioning my relationship with alcohol and felt like I wasn't growing in my spiritual walk. It wasn't that I had lost faith; I believe God was pricking my heart as it pertained to my alcohol consumption. Every time I drank, I began to question myself. It was taking up so much energy and brain space, but I continued to drink and ignored the pricking.
I am a golfer, and after golf, there was always alcohol. I loved wine; it was my favorite--the taste, the smell, all of it. My group of golfers and I would have wine tastings at each other's homes quite often, and alcohol was becoming more of my story than I wanted it to be, and my faith was becoming less. It was really starting to bother me because God was very important to me. The pricking was still happening, but I was still ignoring it, even at this point. Now, every time I had a drink or thought of having one, I would tell myself, “OK, only two glasses of wine or no alcohol today.” This ping pong, if you will, would go on in my head whenever I thought of having a drink. My head hurt so much. I was not enjoying it as much anymore but found it hard to stop. But I knew I needed to. I was tired of letting God down. I knew he wanted more for my life than this, but as with any drug, it is addicting, and the “enemy” knows how to push my buttons. So, I went on and wrestled with quitting. Maybe I’ll moderate, I told myself, and I tried to, but I would give in and always have that one more glass. I knew that God needed to become more and alcohol less, but I was fearful my friends and some of my family wouldn't understand if I quit, and I feared “missing out.” I didn't want to have to explain my “why” all the time.
Since I knew I couldn't do it on my own, I decided I would do a dry January, and in 2021 I did. During that time, I saw on Facebook a group called SoberSis--it offered a 21-day reset for $100, so I did it. During these 21 days, I learned so much about what alcohol did to your body and brain. I read a few quick-lit books and discovered that I was drinking a toxin. I also had such an amazing support system within the group, which made stopping a whole lot easier. I also confessed to my small group of close “sisters in Christ” my struggle with alcohol and what I was doing about it. They, along with the SoberSis tribe of like-minded women on the same journey, and some members of my family, supported me all the way. When I surrendered to the Lord, meaning when I stopped trying to do it myself and turned it over to Him, he equipped me with all I needed to stop drinking. With God, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. It took about a year, maybe a little more, to feel comfortable going out with friends, playing golf, and doing all the activities I did without alcohol. I had many moments of “Man, I really want to have a drink,” and those were mainly times when I was unsure of myself or struggling with relational or emotional issues. What helped me to overcome it was my faith. I prayed, I talked to God about my struggles, and I asked Him to help me navigate an alcohol-free lifestyle. I also asked my church family and friends to pray for me as well. And at times when I felt vulnerable, I would step back from friends who were still drinking.
The turning point for me was surrendering it all to Jesus. When I did, my life started to change for the better. I felt lighter, I had a new energy about myself, my head felt clearer, and I felt like I could do anything. I had so much joy, and the thing that held me down for so long had been lifted, and I could breathe. My relationships and communication improved as a result, and I am now stronger in my faith, more confident in myself, and in the way I approach new things. I am also a healthier version of myself. I've learned about how “you are what you eat” and that your emotions play a big part in how you approach food. I also learned that as much as what is on your plate, the food you eat, is just as important as what's off your plate--your emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical health. I have become more self-aware of how I feel after I eat, what food serves me well, and what foods don't, and how my emotions sometimes play a role in when and what I eat. I now work with a functional medicine doctor to help me navigate my health and wellness journey. I have qualified as a health coach, and I am now working with people in this way and I'm feeling blessed to help people on their wellness journeys.
Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The single most important message that I would like people to know is to focus on one thing at a time. When you try to make a lot of changes all at once, it can be very overwhelming and doing it on your own can be very hard. Having support makes all the difference. I believe I can help people take that thing that they want to change and walk with them on their journey, support and encourage them every step of the way. I would offer to pray with and for them on their journey to whole body wellness. My vision for the future is to help people see the active role God can play in accomplishing their wellness goals if they trust in Him. I also want to help empower them to be their own advocates for their health care, and that they would take what they have learned and pass it on to those they love.
God + health = Holistic Harmony.
