John 16:20 "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will be turned to JOY!"

In the early stages of recovery we all go through a grieving process. This is normal.

When we have to give up something that we have become accustomed to having, it is not always an easy thing to do....even if that "thing" we are giving up brought us misery and despair. Our brains actually remember good feelings more than bad feelings. This would explain why people trying to quit using crack seem to have a hard time forgetting the "Good Feeling" crack gave us.

According to psychiatrists, a person experiencing grief will go through "FIVE" stages of grief.

1. Denial: "this can't be happening to me" How many times do we ask ourselves during the early stages of recovery, "How did I get here? I am a good person, this can't be happening!"

2. Anger: "Why is this happening? Who is to blame?" We become angry with ourselves, God, family, and try and justify our actions by pointing fingers.

3. Bargaining: "Please make this STOP and I promise I will never do it again!!" How many times have you said that or pleaded with God?

4. Depression: "I am too sad to do ANYTHING!" We all go through this. Many of you are experiencing this right now. No motivation and your thoughts are clouded with regret.

5. Acceptance: "I can now finally accept that crack no longer has a place in my life" This last stage comes at different times for each person. The hope is that it WILL come!

Typically most people experiencing loss of anything on any level go through this grieving process. The timeline however, is different for everyone.

We can rejoice knowing that God promises us that our grief will be turned to JOY! Once we get to that "Acceptance" stage and learn how to replace our negative thoughts with positive ones, our hearts begin to experience change.

Ezekiel 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh"

God promises us that when we turn to Him we will get a new heart. Now this obviously isnt a new "physical" heart, but whether we get a new "spiritual" heart or a new "physical" heart, it takes time for us to really make use of it.

Heart Surgeons tell thier "Heart Transplant" patients that the BEST medicine during thier recovery from a heart transplant is a "POSITIVE ATTITUDE" It is no mystery that negative thoughts, stress, and depression are not good for the heart, even in a healthy person.

After a "heart Transplant" it takes the human body at least 6 to 8 weeks to actually "accept" the new heart and begin to use it as its own. Those first 6 to 8 weeks are critical to the persons survival. They must have a lifestyle change and begin to exercise the heart to make it stronger.

Having a "spiritual heart transplant" is no different. When God gives us a new heart, we do not "instantly" become super spiritual and full of joy! It takes time, patience, and exercise.

Practicing Joy, having positive thoughts instead of negative, acceptance instead of denial, and forgiveness instead of blame, is a "process." We don't just wake up one morning and all of a sudden have it all figured out.

When a person is using crack cocaine they are playing Russian Roulett with their Heart....Literally. It is no secret that the possibility of "Heart Failure" from crack cocaine is a very real possibility.

Using crack not only endangers our heart physically but spiritually as well. Crack robs us of emotion, self-worth, love, hope, desire, and faith.

When it comes down to it, the reality of crack use is that a user had two choices... keep using and eventually DIE from it, or stop using and begin a new life where we will learn to REALLY LIVE!

When a person does decide to stop using, as I mentioned above, they go through a grieving process and to some extent begin to wonder if they really want to stop. When we stop using we put ourselves in a position where we have to learn to live again, love again, be honest again, face life again, and go through some hard times before we can be happy again. All of us have those times when we ask ourselves if we are really READY to go through the recovery process and are we really READY to face the consequences brought on due to our crack use.

Those feelings can be compared to a person who has a REAL heart problem and requires a transplant. A person in this position must be TERRIFIED because there are risks and there is no guarentee it will work.

But their decision can be the difference between life or death.

This picture kind of illustrates the delimna a person facing a real "physical" heart transplant is facing:



The yellow sandy side is supposed to represent life while ill with heart failure (or during active crack use) , if you do nothing you will die (the lion will get you).

The River and the crocodiles represent the operation,(or taking the steps neccesary for a recovery program) risky but there is a chance. (Risky becasue we may have to change our way of living 180 degrees. Give up a job, move to another place, stop seeing our friends, sell things to pay off expenses incured while using, etc..)

The green fields, woods and sunshine on the other side of the bank is hopefully a healthier, happier life after transplant.(or after crack!)

Please remember that no matter HOW MISERABLE you may be in the early stages of recovery, no matter how much you may have to sacrifice, no matter how long it takes, The grass is always greener on the other side of the shark infested waters. The ulitmate reward is LIFE!

The only option we truly have if we stay on the Yellow Sandy side where the LION roams is DEATH!

Remember what the bible tells us in 1Peter 5:8 "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

And devour he will do if we continue to allow him access to our damaged heart.

Our only hope for survival is the green grass on the other side where God waits and promises us a NEW HEART.

Finally, we can't forget that when a person requires a physical "heart transplant" SOMEONE HAS TO DIE! There are no Heart Stores where one with a bad heart can just go buy a new one.

For us to get a new "spiritual heart" Someone has to die... and that person is YOU.....not a physical death, but a death to the old life so that you can begin a NEW LIFE with your NEW HEART!

My friends, accept the grieving process. Accept that there will be hard times. Accept that God wants to give you a new heart.

Then take that new heart and exercise it DAILY, Hourly, every minute of every day until the JOY springs out like a flowing river and youu begin to expereince FREEDOM!!

2 Corinthians 3:17: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY!!."

Liberty = Freedom and it can be YOURS forever!