Title: Lessons Learned in My Mother’s Addiction Journey

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

When someone you love struggles with addiction, the journey isn’t a straight line. It’s a winding path full of hope, heartbreak, anger, forgiveness, and everything in between.

I walked that road with my mother.

Growing up, I often carried silent questions: Why isn’t love enough? Why can’t things just be normal? I didn’t understand how deep the grip of addiction could be. But through the messiness, God taught me lessons I carry to this day—lessons about grace, resilience, and the power of presence.

Psalm 34:18 became an anchor for my soul. I learned that broken hearts aren’t a sign of failure—they're a place where God draws near. I saw firsthand that healing rarely happens on our timeline. It's a slow work, often invisible at first, but no less miraculous.

The biggest lesson? Love doesn’t always look like fixing someone’s life. Sometimes it looks like being willing to stay—praying, hoping, forgiving, setting healthy boundaries, and trusting God to do what I couldn't.

If you're walking alongside someone who’s struggling, take heart: God is close to you too. He sees your tears, hears your prayers, and holds the pieces you can’t carry.

You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to love in the tension and trust in the unseen.

Reflection Questions:

• How have you experienced God’s closeness in a season of heartbreak?

• In what ways might God be asking you to trust him with someone you love?

• What does loving someone without trying to fix them look like in your life right now?

Father, thank You for being close when our hearts are broken. Teach me to love like You love—patiently, faithfully, without trying to control the outcome. Heal the wounded places in me and in those I love. Remind me that no story is too messy for your redemption. Amen.