Over the last year and some change Iāve been sober. The decision to become sober came to me after a work happy hour. I realized I said things I didnāt need to say, acted differently, and just overall felt like crap after (what a surprise)! I was also just getting to know Jesus Christ as a person, not as some religious practice; my Friend, my Shepherd, my Savior.
Ever since I stopped drinking in December 2024, Iāve looked back and reflected on how Iāve changed. Iāve become more confident in being myself around people, I donāt have to fake it until I make it anymore. I donāt need āconfidence juiceā to be myself. I found my identity in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17 - āTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!ā)
Making this decision to stop drinking has not only made my life better, but has affected people around me in a positive way. It has helped others realize they donāt need alcohol / substances either. Thank you God for the strength to fight this fight, and I pray that you seek the help you need if you are fighting a similar battle.
#Jesus #addiction #sober #alcohol #praisegod
Breathtaking. My first time truly exploring nature has been a memorable one.
During the whole trip, I kept reminding myself of Romans 1:20, which says āFor since the creation of the world Godās invisible qualitiesāhis eternal power and divine natureāhave been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.ā God is all around us. These mountains were created by Him, and I got to explore them and view the masterpiece first hand.
Every time I stopped to take a quick break hiking, I couldnāt help but to look all around me and how beautiful even the path to the destination was.
There is beauty in the process. Iāve realized how similar a difficult hike is to going through life situations. Usually starts off normal, but as you get further in, it gets rocky, and then you have to pass over big hills / mountains. Through the hills, it gets rough. You stop sometimes, turn around to see how far youāve come, and then contemplate if you keep going or not. But you keep going. You eventually get to the top, and itās all worth it. The beauty at the end far surpasses the struggles of the process.
I hope this encourages you. Jesus loves you, and so do I ā¤ļø
God works in the coolest ways. A simple prayer for the clouds to clear up, and it was perfect. We werenāt going to go to the peek but I asked Stewart if we could and he was up for it. I told him while climbing, these clouds are going to clear once we get to the top. Well, literally as we got to the top, the clouds slowly cleared up right where we were. I was in awe, kept saying the same thing over and over again āwowā. Genuinely didnāt know what else to stay, there are no words to describe that beautiful moment, while in Godās beautiful creation. Thank you Stewart for the guidance, teaching me new things about hiking, allowing me to join you, the slice of pizza, and the ride back to my Airbnb just before checkout ā¤ļø
Love life, because you are loved by Jesus šš¼
Anchorage, Alaska is unreal. Hiked to Hidden Lake, and then hopped on the Ramp Trail up to this peak. Breathtaking to say the least. Thank you God for this beautiful creation that we get to live and explore in ā¤ļø
2024 was a year to remember. One of my toughest years, with moving away from family for work and battling the loneliness that came with that. I worked on my relationship with Jesus, who is my friend that will never leave me. In doing so, I learned a lot about why things happen to me the way they do. In Romans 8:28, it reads āAnd we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposeā. Everything that happens to me is by God for my benefit, and itās a good thing to remember when things donāt go your way. A ton of things didnāt go the way I had hoped this year, but they will lead to greater things as I continue growing with God. If youāve read this far, Jesus loves you, and I ask you to give Him a chance. He has changed my life, and can change yours if you accept Him ā¤ļø
Itās little moments like these that I work for. Itās not about the money or clout, itās about the growth and experiences. I donāt go to work grinding a paycheck, I go to work to learn and grow, while being the best employee & person I can be. Working for @VeeFriends full time and not continuing with college has easily been the best decision of my life, and I mean it. The relationships Iāve built, the skills Iāve learned, and the great memories Iāve made are what keeps me going.
šø @dustinnotjustin
