There's "Hope for Tomorrow" by Matthew Linehan 1/31/2020

Credit to Pastor John Bowman for the Phrase, "Hope for Tomorrow."

When I was drinking and drugging through my 30 years of addiction, tomorrow meant a lot of things to me but it certainly didn't mean "Hope." Tomorrow meant things like: another crushing hangover from drugs and alcohol, struggle, anger, resentment, worry, defeat and the most common theme was...I can't wait for this day to end so I can "try again to not be a loser tomorrow."  What a horrible way to go through life. I mean, it was a never ending cycle that I couldn't get off. A roller coaster ride of emotions and physical sickness. I mean I was either drunk or hungover and waiting for whatever activity I was involved in to end so I could put chemicals into my body in the hope that it would bring me some kind of physical, mental or emotional relief. I was "self medicating" and trying to put things into my physical body hoping my emotional "body" would feel "well." It was a never ending cycle, a roller coaster, a path that I COULD NOT GET OFF... 

It says in Romans 15:4, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." 

To me this scripture tells me that whatever you are going through today, have faith that it is all part of a bigger picture that God is using to write our testimony.

Another one is one of Lakewood Church's favorite scriptures is in Jeremiah 29:11, " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

"Plans to give you hope and a future." That to me is the ultimate promise of God. See I never had hope for a future. Not when I knew that tomorrow would bring pain and suffering. But God...

Today I have "Hope for Tomorrow." Through scripture reading, morning meditation, praying in tongues, praising Jesus through worship music and serving and volunteering, I have peace in my heart knowing that Jesus is in total control and will ensure that my future is brighter than my past.

If you too are struggling with addiction of any kind...have faith that I am no different than you. I felt lost, hopeless and helpless. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that there was absolutely no way that I could get off the crazy cycle that I was on. I knew in my heart that I would somehow die a horrible death fueled by alcohol and drugs or physical sickness or even worse, suicide. But God had other plans. He gave me a "Hope for Tomorrow."

Thank you Jesus for saving my life! Thank you for giving me a life! Thank you that I now have "Hope for Tomorrow!"

Jesus IS KING!

Amen!