Answers

Q:

I don't understand myself. My father was an alcoholic, and I hated what it did to our family. But now I think I might be headed the same way. It doesn't make any sense because I know it'll just mess up both me and my family. What's wrong with me?


A:

Surely, one of life’s greatest mysteries is why we’ll go ahead and do something when we know it’s going to destroy us—and yet it happens all the time. I can’t help but think of Jeremiah’s words: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

I can only guess why you’re going down the same path your father did (although I urge you to discover the reasons, perhaps with the aid of a trained counselor). Some people, for example, instead of dealing with their problems, turn to alcohol to escape from them (although in reality this only makes things worse). If your father never taught you how to face life’s problems, you may respond to them the same way he did—by turning to alcohol.

But whatever the reason, the most important thing I can tell you is that God loves you, and He doesn’t want you to go down the wrong path. Instead, He wants to come into your life and give you the strength you need to face your problems. He also wants to help you rebuild your life on the foundation of Christ and His Word. Ask Christ to come into your life today.

Then ask God to surround you with people who love you and can help you. Seek out a church where Christ is central, and where you will find others who understand what you’re going through and can help you. Don’t let another day go by without Him.