Instead Jill stuffed her pain down deeper. One sleepless night she sneaked into the kitchen, remembering her father’s old remedy for stress. Careful not to wake her husband, she poured a glass of the wine that was set aside for cooking. Just a little wouldn’t hurt.

A few months later Lynn found Jill crying in the church bathroom. Heated arguments with her husband over changes in her behavior, the sneakiness and dishonesty, had forced her to accept the awful truth. “Roger says I need to stop self-medicating and get help before I ruin our family. How could I let myself do this, Lynn? I hated it when my dad drank, and I hated all those family reunions where half my relatives left in a huff because of alcohol-induced fights. Now I’m just like them.”

“No you’re not.” Lynn hugged Jill. “You’re admitting that things got out of control. Now you can let God help you overcome this.”

The Bible is clear on this point: God does not want His children to abuse alcohol. Anyone who has spent time around an alcoholic or an intoxicated friend will most likely understand why the Bible warns against it. Who can deny how it alters judgment and makes everyday activities like driving dangerous? So take a moment to pray for anyone you know who has been affected by alcohol abuse. And when you’re the one who’s hurting, turn to God alone for comfort.