Free! has just ended another 10 week programme of biblical insight and support groups.  We had a great combination of past and new participants; no two groups are ever alike, which makes this ministry far from dull.  

It is the stories that people share, revealing very personal struggles, that make it an absolute privilege to be a part of such a ministry. 

One story stood out and with permission I am going to share, with a change of name; 

Philippa disclosed at the beginning of the 10 sessions that she had a problem with alcohol; she knew she had to do something.  She was a believer, and along with that comes the guilt and shame of knowing that she was hiding, isolating, and knowing that this was not the path God wanted for her. 

Philippa didn’t even know even if she wanted to give it up.  She wasn’t sure how to give up something that had been, and still was, such a part of her life. 

Philippa was quite quiet, listening intently to others’ struggles.  God had put this group together; with another alcohol struggler; and several others, who had already found freedom, but were now struggling with other issues. 

She was not alone.

She booked in with her GP and found the courage to admit to him her problem. She was not surprisingly very nervous prior to the appointment.

We prayed.

She prayed.

She went.

This set into motion some practical help that became useful to her. 

One session she poignantly revealed that she was not even sure that God would be there for her when she finally let go of the drink. 

Could she trust Him?

We prayed, we shared and after a while Philippa said that she had set a date and a time to begin her first week of being alcohol free. She knew it was something God wanted her to do.

Now, I will add here that sometimes it is really important to get professional help to detox, to do it in a wise manner.  Philippa was not in this category and she had been to see her GP.

The date was set. Philippa was wise to bring her community into this time.  She had chosen a week that was free of any family commitments and she made sure she had a friend alongside her  every day of that week.  Friends that were not going to tempt her with going to a bar, bringing round a bottle etc. Friends, who knew the intensity of Philippa’s struggle and who were there to support her on her journey.

She was all set but there was one more component. 

Philippa thought to herself, “I need something tangible to remind me of who I am.”

She bought a robe. A brand new jacket that she could wear to remind her of her identity in Christ;

• She is a new creation
• The old has gone
• The new has come
• She is a child of God
• She is loved by Him
• She is forgiven
• He is her strength and comfort

Every time she began to struggle, she would find the “robe” and put it on, reminding herself of the truth of Christ and who she is in Him. 

I am going to end this post with Philippa’s own words;