With God, Teen Challenge and the godly people around me, I overcame my drug addiction.
I was born in 1977 and am currently 44 years old. Other than my parents, I have two other younger siblings in my family. Unfortunately, my mum passed on early in her life due to an accident happened at home when I was in my late twenties.
Many drug abusers have mentioned their initial exposure to drug is due to environment or friends but, my exposure was due to my own curiosity rather than peer pressure from the circle of friends. And it is because of that curiosity led to my downfall in life as I was drawn into the world of drugs since my early twenties. This has also caused me to hurt my loved ones including my wife, sons, two younger siblings, and without a doubt, my dad too.
Now because of my addiction, I was caught up with the law three times and, not to mention the countless times I was not caught. Throughout those years when I was addicted to drugs, the Drug Rehabilitation Center, Institute of Mental Health, and prison didn’t really change me. And it was only in 2020, I became determined to mend my ways when I was reading the Bible in prison one day about the prodigal son. This story brought great insight into my own life. When I was sent to a Christian Halfway House for my rehabilitation program, I found God in a personal way and slowly but surely, began to engage in a local church. It was also the time when I was attending church faithfully, a brother encouraged me to follow the Lord wholeheartedly by following the Lord’s command to be water baptized and to walk in His way in this new lease of life.
Since coming to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and having accepted Him as Lord and Savior, God has done marvelous work in my life. Now, I’m actively attending church service and consistently engaged with godly believers in a godly environment. This helps me continue to battle the many challenges in life. I know God is helping me in redeeming my life from the pit of my addiction. I thank God for my family, who helps me focus to stay away from drug addiction.
Currently, I’m employed full-time in Teen Challenge Singapore as a maintenance staff. It is also in Teen Challenge, where God has been gracious and faithful in sending many godly individuals to encourage and spur me on in my walk with God. Though there were times I still faced temptations, by God’s grace and continual strength, I have resisted and emerged stronger both in my faith in God and in my life. I will continue to allow the power of God to transform my life.
As I conclude, I want to thank God who has never given up on me throughout the years I was far away from Him due to my addiction. My favorite passage of Scripture is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Through this passage of scripture, I’m believing all sufficiency of God’s grace to continue to enable me to live a life free from addiction and to glorify Him. At the same time, to use my life as a living testimony to help and spur others on.
May God richly blessed all you readers out there!
