” I was in this position for a prolonged period, addicted to drugs and suffering intensely with mental illness that totally overwhelmed my life”.

Addiction is a fearful and lonely place to be, it may seem that there is no place to turn to and no one to help.  It often leads to family breakdown with mental and physical health issues.  I was in this position for a prolonged period, addicted to drugs and suffering intensely with mental illness that totally overwhelmed my life.  I had been brought up in a Christian home with many Christian influences in my life.  I had completely rebelled against all I had been taught and ended up in a complete mess as a result of my rebellious nature.  My life was essentially over I had lost everything including my mind, as a direct result of my poor life choices.

When I came to rock bottom and in the midst of confusion and helplessness, I turned to God.  I have a conversation story that spans over five years.  Starting in the utter chaos of delusional thinking and cravings for drugs to deliverance and setting free from both addiction and mental illness.

The Lord in His goodness gave doctors that prescribed the right medication which largely dealt with the symptoms of my broken mind.  As I started to recover it was like waking up from a nightmare, I was getting better each day as the medicine did its work.  I was still addicted to drugs and had been attending church and then not attending church.  Going from day to day struggling to win this battle in my own strength and failing miserably.  When I finally submitted to God and His help I was miraculously and completely delivered from addiction overnight.

I went to bed addicted and woke up in the morning and I wasn’t addicted.  The deliverance was as miraculous and clear cut as that.  I had been crying out to God, primarily to forgive my sins, to set me free from these sins that were having such a devastating effect on my life and soul.  I asked God to show me how real He is and He did with a spiritual experience that completely transformed my life.  The addiction was removed, and I was made free and have been free for over twenty-five years now.

There is hope for anyone no matter what the situation is or how far gone we think we are.  God can reach to the depths and in my case did with a complete deliverance.  He can do this for anyone that comes to Him for His help.

You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. (Jerimiah 29:13)

“Aged fifteen I left school and Fort William to work at the fishing in Stornoway. With this freedom and no parents to answer too it was not long before I was drinking and taking drugs”.

I was brought up in Fort William, drink played a big part in the home, as I got older my parents no longer went to church, though my grandmother continued to take us. I never paid much attention, though I kind of believed there was a God.

Aged fifteen I left school and Fort William to work at the fishing in Stornoway. With this freedom and no parents to answer to, it was not long before I was drinking and taking drugs. This progressed over the years and resulted in me getting into trouble with the police and messing up relationships.

In November 1998 I was working on a small crab boat with a friend. On the return voyage to port the weather had become very poor and the boat took on a lot of water to the point it capsized. We became separated in the water, it became dark, it was hard to breath. I kept swallowing water, and I became so tired I thought I was going to die, and in despair I called out to God “please save me “. after this, things got easier, the wind and the sea calmed some then I felt something brush my feet. It was seaweed so I knew then I was close to the shore. Then my foot was on the rock.

I woke in hospital very aware that I had called on God to save me and decided to go to church to thank God. I also realised that I had lost a good friend that night and had a job coming to terms with this.

The following Sunday I went to Church and a lot of what was said was relevant to me, but it was the words of Psalm 40 which really struck me.

I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear at length to me He did incline my voice and cry to hear. He took me from a fearful pit, and from the miry clay and on a rock, he set my feet, establishing my way.

That was literally what had happened to me a few days earlier. I began to pray and read my Bible, attend church, but due to fear and worries I fell away and returned to drink and drugs again for the next 15 years. At times I felt I was in a self-destruct mode, not really caring about anything and a general dissatisfaction with life. all this was hard on family life and my mental health. Around the beginning of 2012 all the lies, cheating, drinking, all my sin had caught up with me, my life was a real mess. I felt I was on a precipice and if I carried on the way I was, the whole world was going to drop out from under me. I needed help.

I was on a ship in the middle of the North Sea, broken, I went on my knees and called on the Lord again, I prayed for forgiveness and help.  Again, God heard my cry, and he answered me, I have not drunk or smoked form that day and he brought healing into my life. There were and continue to be challenges in life I don’t always understand, but I now look to the one who does.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Prov 3:5-6)

I started working in the HAP Supported Accommodation in 2015. It’s been a wonderful learning experience and great to work in such a supportive environment with excellent training, which boosts your confidence.  It is a pleasure to get alongside and hopefully pass on the things I have learned in my own life to the residents and to seek to help them in their lives.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!