Personal testimony is mighty. No one can take our story away from us. It’s ours. When we share what is ours with others, we hand them hope. And hope is a powerful thing when life feels particularly fragile. Hope keeps people alive. Today I’d like to share the testimony of my friend and prayer partner, Candace Kohler. It was her Facebook post a couple of days ago. Candace’s words struck a chord with me, so I asked her permission to share it on my blog.

“Almost 10 years clean from Cocaine, I am humbly thankful for the powerful name of Jesus – Can I get an Amen? I don’t post this stuff on FB, but look, do you know someone on drugs or alcohol? Do you judge them? Make no mistake, no one ever says they want to grow up and be addicted. It’s a powerful stronghold from the devil that can be broken through intercessional prayer and fasting. Be encouraged today, God has a plan for their life too. A good plan, with a good end. Just look at how my life has totally made a 180 degree turn – glory be to God.” Candace Kohler

If you love someone who is addicted, I just want to encourage you with my friend’s words. I know it is difficult to hold on to hope, because you’ve been “burned” so many times and believed so many lies. But I want to encourage not to let go of hope. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” We become heartsick when our hopes are dashed time and time again, especially if we are the spouse of an addicted person. I well remember that sickening, sinking feeling of realizing once again, that I had been “duped.” That I had believed the lies. That I had been gullible and had enabled the user to sink further into the pit of self-destructive behavior because I had misplaced my hope to the point of blindness.

I’m not talking about placing hope on the shoulders of a human being. I am speaking about hoping, believing… trusting in the ability of almighty God to transform the life of our addicted loved one. Candace’s testimony is powerful because it demonstrates the potential of God in a surrendered life. His word says that with Him nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).

The key words there are with Him. When we ally ourselves with the King of the Universe, NOTHING is impossible. And when we surrender our lives completely to Him, He will finish the work He began in us. When we surrender our addicted loved one to Him, we can trust that our prayers for that precious soul are being heard. God loves them more than we do. He has wonderful plans for their lives. Don’t give up on them. He’s not finished. Relinquish them to Him. And allow Jesus to be their Savior. We cannot take that role upon ourselves.

But we can pray. Candace’s words of hope are these, addiction is “ a powerful stronghold from the devil that can be broken through intercessional prayer and fasting.” Dear friend, let me encourage you to find a prayer partner and begin interceding and fasting for your addicted loved one. Hold on to hope. Be encouraged today…Candace is living proof that God’s tools work.

I am proud of you, Candace Kohler. Keep the faith, sister. Your story gives hope to many who  may just feel like giving up.

Photo Credit for “Life Is Fragile” goes to my sister and iphonographer Ami Novak. More of her beautiful work can be found at www.twenty20.com/winter_can_wait