All Things Work Together For Good

Shari's Story 

Wow, so hard to believe that I am finally completing Teen Challenge (TC). God has shown me so much in my time here. There were several times that I wanted to quit and go home, but I knew that too much was at stake here. I have sons that needed to see VICTORY, which they had not seen in a long time. They needed to see God do His thing. Now I can only speak for myself, but as a "Christian" parent I have let them down. I turned away from God in hard circumstances. Instead I turned to people and substances to bring me relief, knowing all along that only God and His Holy Spirit could help me.

In November of 1991, I truly believed that I finally had this whole God thing figured out. I had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, witnessed God work a miracle in my life, and along with my husband, received a spiritual heart transformation. I couldn't wait to see what God had in store for us. We had a passion for seeing everyone around us get the "God thing" too. Now at this same time, we also had some obstacles to overcome. We were starting a new business, having a baby, and struggling financially. But as we stepped out in obedient faith, God came through every time. We had the joy of seeing friends and family come to know Christ. We eagerly sought out our place in the body of Christ, and became involved in our church.

People warned us time and time again to stay in God's word, don't let your guard down. Well eventually we did. We allowed things into our lives and opened doors that in the end crippled us spiritually. Alcohol was one of those things. I told myself that drinking would be okay, even though the Holy Spirit had told me otherwise. At first it was not a problem, but soon drinking became a tool to deal with hurt, rejection, and loss. I lost both my mother and father to lung cancer within three years of each other. I had an overwhelming fear that even when things were at peace, something horrible was going to happen. I became dark and depressed. My husband tried his best to fix me. I remember one night him gathering the boys around me, and all of them laying hands on me and praying. But no matter his efforts, he couldn't reconnect me to God. And this separation I felt from God left me a dark, gloomy, hopeless, extremely suicidal, frail, and paralyzed person.

Disillusioned with the whole situation, my husband sought peace and comfort from outside of God and our marriage. Spiritually this knocked me out. I gave up on God and did things that I never believed I would; suicide attempts, car wrecks, OWI's. But God refused to allow me to grow comfortable with this yucky behavior. In all of His glory, He knew what I needed. I needed a new environment, a refuge, a place where I could reconcile myself with Him and His truths. If you haven't already guessed that place was Teen Challenge.

My journey with TC actually started back in November of 2009. Pella was the closest center to my hometown, Bettendorf, IA. Unfortunately there were no openings, and I needed to get somewhere fast. So I entered the TC Center in Cleburne, Texas. Though my Texas TC family was awesome, I soon realized with two boys at home, that I needed to be closer. But again, there were still no openings at the Pella center, so I entered the Milwaukee TC on New Year's Eve of that same year. But while I was there I fed into Satan's lie that I was a quitter and I would be better off at home, and I left. It took another eight months of drinking, self-pity, and speaking with Candace before I finally made the decision to enter TC again. This time there was an opening in Pella.

When I began making the necessary arrangements to enter TC of Pella, God gave me my first miracle. I had an intestinal bacteria that was untreatable without a certain medication that just so happened to cost $3000. God immediately provided and I received the medication free of charge, from friends of mine who own a pharmacy. Oh and did I mention they had just the right amount of antibiotics that I needed? Some may say that's a coincidence but I call that a Godcidence.

For almost twenty-five years I looked to my husband to supply all my needs and by doing so I set us both up for failure. I've learned that you can't put anyone else in God's place, He won't allow it. But I've also learned that nothing I do can change the plan and purpose God has for me. I am His beloved daughter and that alone gives me enough love and power to fulfill all the plans He has for my life. He alone is my provider. Romans 8:28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." I stand here today, two weeks away from completing, and can honestly say I know that verse to be true. I've seen it come to pass many of times in my life. Thank you Lord for creating me for a specific purpose and for never giving up on me! I love you!

Shari with her family at her son's graduation