He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from the beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
This verse in Ecclesiastes proclaims His way, already done: He has made ALL things beautiful in its time.
ALL things … the buzzed comments, the hangovers, the thousands of dollars spent on alcohol (from ages 18-44), the swimming in lies, feeling as low as the plankton.
Beautiful, though not at first glance or maybe even fifth. God determines the time when He the Creator makes ALL things beautiful.
He has set eternity in the human heart
This September marks five years without alcohol of any kind, of any amount.
If you had told me six years ago, I would live without alcohol, my lifelong friend and foe, I would have ignored your silliness. At that time, I couldn’t see much past the bottle in front of me.
Yet no one can fathom what God has done from the beginning to end
The only reason I stopped drinking wine at night when my kids went to bed, the only reason I stopped drinking beer after the wine was gone, the only reason I tossed and turned in bed for six months not knowing how to fall asleep or how to feel … was because God said, “NO MORE ALCOHOL.”
So clear, so powerful.
Not my initiation but His.
September 2014, I chose to obey my Father in heaven who showed me a love like nobody before.
He told me to stop drinking to open a path of healing, for myself and for the relationships around me.
He knew the days of old when alcohol was first in my heart … He knew something beautiful would bloom.
I believe this truth now … for me and for everything.
All things will be beautiful because God says so.
Jesus wants all those chained by alcohol and drugs to be free.
Jesus wants all those whose hearts are filled with someone or something other than Him to come. No shame. No condemnation. Just come near to Him, Our Lord and Savior.
In this post, He wants me to share the ways alcohol ruled my life.
Take a look at how Merlot and Budweiser crowded my heart:
Money spent on wine and beer over and over and over again.
Hangovers over and over and over again … dry mouth, craving salt and unhealthy foods, the desire to hide in my bed though I couldn’t rest.
Believing the lie I needed alcohol to relax, deal with stress, to be more uninhibited during sex.
Believing the lie that I as a person was worth nothing unless I earned it.
Believing the lie I wasn’t hurting anyone by drinking.
Believing the lie I could stop drinking if I wanted to.
Believing the lie that my desire to drink was more important than everything else.
Believing the lie that I had dealt with my past.
Drinking 3 or 4 glasses or a whole bottle before sleep meant I wasn’t praying or reading my Bible or preparing my heart for the next day with people I love.
Alcohol is a depressant and does nothing to help one heal from depression. Alcohol does not cure insomnia because it numbs all feelings, the good and the bad.
Here I am almost five years later.
I have fallen in love with Jesus.
Up early with Him most days. Praying to Him most nights before sleep.
Intimacy with my husband has increased because I share who I am authentically with him. Naked has a whole new meaning. I give my whole self rather than the alcoholic way of seeking approval for the way my body looks.
Parenting is no longer about surviving the day but of creating the day, receiving the day He made for us. Our boys know why I don’t drink anymore. Our boys know alcohol is a genetic nightmare in our family.
I am no longer the woman who justified every sip of wine and beer, who was suffocating herself under layers of lies.
One choice: to obey Him and not drink led to so many other good things.
Thankfulness has exploded in my heart, like one of those fields of sunflowers.
I cannot imagine my life without Jesus.
I am thankful for breath in my lungs.
I am thankful for eyes that see, for I am no longer blind.
I am thankful for clarity of mind, for I am free from the cloud of doom whispering shame after a night of drunk.
I am thankful for my husband who never left me in all my ugliness, in all my bitterness.
I am thankful for our boys who are far from perfect but who seek me out to talk about things, hard things.
I still struggle with depression. I still struggle with life.
With Jesus first, I can do anything.
Hope in a future with Him fuels the hard things, trusting somewhere down the pike is beauty.
Whatever it is in your life that demands your attention, that commands your heart, will be beautiful in its time, the time He deems.
It does not happen like magic in Disney movies, though.
Rather, we have a part in it because we matter.
God makes ALL things in our lives beautiful because we matter.
The part we play varies but always comes back to surrender.
Get rid of the things that distract you from His truth. Maybe it is material things or praise from people to feed pride or another selfish love.
The love of Jesus is self-less. He sacrificed Himself, a powerful act of love to forgive us for every time we choose, chose or will choose something other than Him to be first in our hearts.
In His crucifixion, Jesus chose us first. With eternity in mind, He invites every heart to Himself.
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves (Ephesians 1:4-6).
What can you lay down today to give Jesus first place?
How can you grow your trust that He has made ALL things beautiful and that your life story is included in that?
~~~
Oh my! What hope there is in Jesus!
I am looking forward to your comments on this post.
If God lays any names on your heart while reading, please share this post with them. He works like this in my life often. His message is for all, though He uses it specifically for some.
If you are seeking a passionate speaker for your retreat or conference, feel free to email me at juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com. My website will be updated within the next two weeks.
If you live in the South where Hurricane Dorian rages, I am asking God for His protection of His people. I pray you will join me in seeking Him and making room for Him in our hearts.
This post is linking up with #TellHisStory. If you are interested in joining, go to http://www.marygeisen.com to join a community of writers who glorify God.
The photos in the first part of this post are from Pixabay.
Until next time.
In Christ,
Julie
https://faithhopeandpoetry.blog
https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him
https://Instagram.com/jayjule03
Beautiful. I stand with you in praising Jesus for this. Overcoming is such a beautiful thing, isn’t it?
May you find yourself filled up by Jesus today!
Blessings,
Homer Les
http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca
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Thank you Homer. I appreciate your joining in His praise today!
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Solomon came to the same conclusion as you- I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/ecc.2.1-3.ESV
… His conclusion- wine was meaninglessness! He didn’t find the meaning of life at the bottom of a bottle either! Rejoicing with you at your discovery of true meaning in the Lord. Thanks for the post 🙂
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Robert, thank you for reading and being here today. Yes, Solomon so great in His wisdom comforts and inspires me. I will be meditating on Ecclesiastes this week. #toHimbetheglory
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You’re welcome Julie. I’ve just written a summary article about Ecclesiastes if you want to check it out… 🙂
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Will do. Do I find it at your blog?
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Yes, it’s my latest post 🙂
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Praise God for your testimony Julie! It is incredible how the Lord sets us free! God bless you and your family!
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Thank you, brother, for joining with praise. I am only free because of Him. I am only here because of Him. I am only giving Him the glory! Thank you for those blessings, Ryan. I receive them. May God strengthen you this given day.
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It’s a good job you found out in time. Well done you are very brave.
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Thank you and God bless!
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You are welcome..
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Applauding your honesty, and your willingness to “let go and let God” control your life young lady. Those aren’t easy choice you made. I also applaud your willingness to share your testimony in a non-preachy way. What I mean here is that you spoke God’s truth into your life with love, not with accusatory speech and rhetoric to cause someone else to become defensive or depressed by their particular dependency or station in their journey. Proud of you young lady. God’s blessings…
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J.D., your Godly guidance means a lot to me. Thank you for that feedback, that I spoke in this post in a non-preachy way. I pray God use it to unlock people’s junk in their hearts. Praying you and the Mrs. find joy in the rest of what He does today.
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Julie, this is powerful. Still today I can remember those days gone by when a Budweiser or a bottle of Crown or Jim Beam were a mainstay in my hand to cope. Thank God for freedom. Thank you so much for sharing a part of your story with us.
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Oh Stuart, thank you for your words. You and I walk alongside each other in this freedom, supporting each other in Christ. For His glory!
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My heart sister, I know this took courage…..it is raw and beautiful and truth ….. and I pray someone else will fine that same courage because of your obedience!!
Love you!
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I pray Jesus lets you see this response. Your words are life to me, sister. I join you in that prayer. Love you too.
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Praise to His Glory! Thank you for sharing Dear Sister. I am sharing this with a friend I love and pray for!
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With my arms raised, Bettie, I join you in praise to His glory! Praying now for His voice to be heard as others read this post.
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Julie, thank you for sharing the victory you have in Jesus! He is the lover of our soul and has only the best in store for those who love Him, and are willing to surrender their will for His. How wonderful that No-Thing can separate us from His matchless love. Blessings ♥
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Amen, Jacquie. Thank you for joining me to give Him glory for the victory!
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Julie, giving God the glory is always my joy. The only thing more pleasing is when a lost soul finds Jesus ♥
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I have a burning desire for more people to know Jesus, not just know of Him, but to fall in love with Him.
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Hallelujah!
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Thank you for rejoicing in His glory with me Kathy! What a wonderful Savior He is.
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Dear sister (or should I say Samaritan woman?) – Praise Him for His ways! He truly does make everything beautiful in it’s own time. He is the one who says, not by might, nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT! As believers we still sometimes might get discouraged by the process that each of us go through to more and more, day by day moving away from every idol, every love, every enjoyment that replaces Him; but He is not bothered. While we should never be those that “hew out cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water” we have to see that the only way actual change occurs is to come to Him – the fountain of living waters.
He is the reality of the new and fresh wine, the one set out at the end of the wedding, the one who stands and cries out on the last day of the feast and asks if anyone still thirsts. Once we have truly tasted of Him we spontaneously “leave our waterpot” behind and tell everyone to “Come see a man!” From this point we become the reality of the Old Testament drink offering that satisfies and pleases God, because we are no longer filled with something earthly and temporal but the only one in whom He has found His delight – our cheering new wine, Jesus Christ.
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Thank you for adding this wisdom here, brother. All to Him be the glory and power, Amen!
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Julie,
Thank you for sharing your heart with us and how Jesus freed you from alcohol.
Pray for me to be set free from anxiety. Love, Lori
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I stopped drinking 2 years ago. Like you, I thought I needed wine to control my stress. It’s great to be free! Thanks for sharing your story. Blessings, Julie!
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Praising God for His breaking those chains for you, Cindy! Do you struggle with temptation? I struggled the first six months, and then I was free from the taste of wine. Yes, great to be free!
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Honestly, I didn’t really struggle. Before I quit completely, I stopped drinking wine at home. So I only had a glass when I went out to dinner. That made me want to drink more at home, so I quit completely. It hasn’t been a struggle because it feels so good to be free. And that’s the truth. Blessings, Julie!
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Excellent post and testimony, Julie! Celebrating your victory with you and thanking Jesus for His work in you and through you. Blessings.
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Thank you for joining in the celebration Gail! Victory in Jesus is meant to be shared 🙂 May Our Mighty Able God bless you this next hour.
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Rejoicing with you, Julie!! Your precious testimony glorifies our Lord so well. He truly does take our broken past and turn it into a beautiful legacy of His grace!
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Thank you dear Julie for rejoicing with me. Praising His holy name today and all days. Walking free with you sister!
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Praising Jesus for you and for what He has done and will continue to do for you and through you. Much love to you, my dear sister in Christ!
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OHHH Becky, thank you for being here and speaking life into me. Praising the Father, His Son and Spirit! Much love right back to you, sister.
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OH WOW. Names of people who need to read this? I’m jotting them down. God bless you, Julie, the battle is His but you wield the weapons well.
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Thank you Susan for reading. His story in my life is His to use for the good of His people He loves. I look forward to catching up on reading blogs tomorrow. Have an incredible day. In Christ, Julie
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Congratulations on five years! That is awesome! This is a truth we can all learn as a takeaway from your journey: “Hope in a future with Him fuels the hard things, trusting somewhere down the pike is beauty.” Thanks for sharing, Julie.
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Oh thank you dear Lisa for rejoicing with me. It truly is only by His grace I have stopped drinking and stayed away. I am thankful to have connected with you. I will be getting caught up on blogs through tomorrow 🙂
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Julie your testimony was very touching! ♥️ When God says it’s enough, and asks you to do something that is hard, He will always provide the lamb! Just like He did with Abraham and Isaac. Thank you for sharing! I read this through Stu at Something To Stu Over. 🙂
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Good morning dear Renee! SO sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Just getting back to the blogging world. Thank you for that wisdom. Yes, He always provides the lamb. God bless you today, sister.
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Thank you for your honesty and authenticity. I am celebrating 10 months of life without alcohol and agree it was fully God ordained. My relationship with Him has grown immeasurably and it is through his power and my daily surrender that I am surviving and thriving. Loved reading your story.
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How wonderful, Collette! I join you in celebrating 10 months of sobriety! God knows when and how we need to grow closer to Him. That really is all He wants because the rest of our lives fall into place. Keep going, sister. You are not alone, ever.
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