09/04/2026
Tonight, we started with breakfast... for dinner! It was a very hot September Thursday, and breakfast was the perfect choice. Thank you to our kitchen crew, who always seem to get it just right. Our tummies are full, but our hearts are even fuller.
After dinner, we began our service with worship music selected by Amy and Jay, who were also sharing their testimonies with us. We then spent time sharing where God has been at work in our lives throughout the past week. Hearing how God is moving in your lives is always a blessing. He is faithful in every season, present not only in our joys but also in our pain and sorrow.
For the first time in quite a while, we didn't have any milestone celebrations this evening. Even so, we still had much to celebrate. For many in recovery, each day represents another day of freedom: freedom from bo***ge, freedom from darkness, and freedom found in Christ Jesus.
If you know Jay and Amy, you know they are one of our favorite couples. Tonight, they shared their testimonies together. While they are not proud of their past, they are grateful for how God has used it because without those experiences, they would not be where they are today: stronger together and growing in their faith and walk with Jesus. The enemy still attempts to attack, but every day presents another opportunity to stand firm, defy those attacks, and rejoice in what the Lord has done.
Both Jay and Amy came from broken homes, yet looking back they can clearly see that God was always there. Many times they tried to free themselves from their struggles, but doing it alone never worked. Jay shared John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Their lives had become filled with lies, anger, and substance abuse as they attempted to numb the pain they carried. Amy's addiction began at a young age, but it was after being prescribed pain medication that it truly spiraled.
Jay was employed but struggled with addiction and eventually began selling drugs to support his habit. In October 2020, he was involved in a motorcycle accident. It is truly a miracle that he survived. Jay believes God sent an angel to care for him until emergency responders arrived and transported him to the hospital.
Despite everything they had experienced, God brought them back together. They had lost nearly everything, including custody of their three children, but they chose to start again, one day at a time. At one point, they even lived in a tent, just the two of them... and God. Recovery has not always been a straight path, but they continued moving forward and rebuilding their lives. Through it all, God has remained faithful. He has redeemed their past, restored relationships, and brought healing. There is true freedom and forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
Jay concluded by sharing Job 42:10, where God restores Job's fortunes. His message was simple but powerful: when we surrender our lives to God and pray for others, God can restore what was once broken. Jay and Amy are living proof of that truth.
We love you both and could not be more proud of your hard work, perseverance, and faith. It is a blessing to see your smiling faces at BH each week.
Pastor Darin then shared the evening's message. He spoke about a lie that many of us believe at one time or another: "I have to do this alone." Isolation can feel impossible to overcome. Many people struggle with feelings that they have no help, no one to talk to, and no one who truly cares. But that is exactly what it is: a lie.
Pastor Darin centered his message on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. In this passage, Solomon teaches that two people are better than one because they can help, support, strengthen, and encourage each other. That is what BH and other recovery ministries are all about: community.
Even Jesus had His inner circle. While He ministered to many, Peter, James, and John were His closest companions and witnessed things that others did not.
Verse 10 reminds us that when one person falls, another can help them up. Pastor Darin then asked, "Why do you come to Brianna's Hope?" Some of the responses included encouragement, support, guidance, accountability, and friendship. We all stumble at times, and we all need someone to help us get back on our feet. None of us were meant to face life's struggles alone.
Accountability is another important benefit of being part of a supportive community. While it is not always comfortable, accountability helps us grow and make better choices. Sometimes we need others to lovingly challenge us and help keep us on the right path.
Pastor Darin also pointed to the Trinity as the perfect example of relationship and unity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in perfect fellowship and support. Our relationship with God and our relationship with our recovery community are both essential. They provide strength, encouragement, and support when we need it most.
If you find yourself struggling or beginning to spiral downward, do not try to carry the burden alone. Reach out. Lean into your support system. Remember, we are stronger together.
And don't be a Lone Ranger!
See you next Thursday. Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by service at 6:40 p.m.
