Articles & Resources

In this episode, host Amy LaRue is joined by Finding Hope member Lesli Baker. After marrying her husband, he found sobriety, and Lesli believed he was “fixed.” But when she got COVID and lost her sense of smell, their world shifted, and her husband began drinking again. Searching everywhere for answers and support, Lesli eventually found connection and community through Hope is Alive and Finding Hope.

Today, Lesli and her husband are each walking their own paths of recovery —learning, healing, and holding onto hope in the middle of it all.

Whether you love someone battling addiction or are navigating your own recovery journey, Lesli’s story is a reminder that setbacks are not the end of the story.

There is HOPE!

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

‍

Hope is Alive: Our 300th Graduate Proves It

Hope is Alive recently celebrated the life transformation of the program’s 300th graduate, Chase O’Shields (pictured second from left).

“If you give all you’ve got to this program, you won’t recognize your life when you graduate.”

This is our promise to residents in our program. And for graduate Chase O’Shields, this promise is no longer just a hope for the future — it’s his reality.

Watch the video below to hear from Chase!

We help with substance abuse! Reach out today to see how we can help you!

Beauty From Ashes: Finding Hope in the Midst of Devastation

Sometimes life hurts. Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes life can be dark. And it leaves its mark —like ashes of grief —in the deepest parts of our souls, where no one but God can really see. In this plan, Darcie Stephens, Finding Hope Coordinator for Hope is Alive Ministries, shares some of her own story of loving those in the midst of substance abuse and how God brought her HOPE.

Start the plan here: Beauty From Ashes: Finding Hope in the Midst of Devastation

Equipping Yourself for Recovery

If you wanted to repaint your bedroom, would you use a hammer? Or if you needed to rake your leaves, would you grab a shovel? Probably not — because those tools aren’t intended for those jobs. Using the wrong tools would make the task more difficult or even impossible. Having the proper tools — and sometimes a few backup tools — is essential for any home project.

Many times, when we love someone who struggles with addiction, we begin trying to “fix” things without the proper tools. We do the best we can with what we know, and often with what we don’t know. Take a moment to think about the things you’ve tried or are currently doing to help your loved one get sober. How is it going?

As loved ones in recovery, we need a full toolbelt — one equipped with many tools — to help us navigate the ups and downs of loving someone with an addiction.

If your toolbelt feels empty, I have great news. At Finding Hope, we offer resources that can help guide and support you on this journey. We are a support group for wives of alcoholics, a support group for wives of drug addicts, a support group for moms of alcoholics, a support group for moms of drug addicts, a support group for families of drug addicts, a support group for families of alcoholics, and so much more. We truly have seen it all.

Here are a few tools you may want to include in your recovery toolbelt:

• Commit to attending a Finding Hope meeting
• Listen to the Finding Hope Podcast
• Seek professional counseling
• Read literature about boundaries, codependency, and healthy relationships
• Stay connected with others in your Finding Hope group — these members truly get it
• Read God’s Word daily
• Memorize Scripture
• Surrender to God through prayer
• Read a Finding Hope YouVersion Bible plan
• Be intentional about self-care
• Take time to journal regularly
• Attend a Finding Hope Retreat

This is just a short list of tools you may find helpful in your recovery. What other tools do you already have, or what might you need to add?

Just as it’s important to have the right tools for a home project, it’s essential that we have the right tools for our own recovery.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

‍

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

‍

13 Years of Hope and Healing: Hope is Alive Celebrates Its 13th Year of Life Transformation

Hope is Alive has officially been serving the addiction community for 13 years! How has it already been that long since 2013 — but also, how has it only been 13 years?! A special thanks to all the donors, volunteers, supporters, church partners, residents, alumni, families, and friends that have supported and gotten us here! Thank you for helping us further our mission of drug and alcohol addiction treatment!

Since 2013, we’ve responded to 15K+ inquiries for help, helping countless men and women break free from the bonds of addiction. We’ve baptized 619 residents, reunited 2,460 children with sober parents, and graduated 304 residents from our program. All in all, we’ve achieved 3,412 years of continuous sobriety!

And the best is yet to come! Join us as we continue to make history in the realm of addiction recovery!

Helping a Loved One Trapped in Addiction

“I am helping my loved one by not helping them.” I want you to stop and think about this sentence and what it means.

What does it mean to help them by not helping them?

Many times, when we think we are helping our loved one, we are really enabling them. We enable them when we do things for them that they should be able to do on their own if they were not using drugs or alcohol. We also enable when we don’t allow them to feel the consequences of their behaviors. By enabling, we are their cushion. We are making it easier for them to stay in their addiction and not feel the destruction of their addiction.

So, how can we really help our loved ones?

• We can help them by saying “No.”
• We can help them by setting firm and intact boundaries.
• We can help them by detaching from the chaos of their addiction.
• We can help them by believing their mess is not our mess to clean up.
• We can help them by giving them fully to God.
• We can help them by trusting and having faith in God.
• We can help them by being their biggest prayer warriors.
• We can help them by investing in ourselves.
• We can help them by attending Finding Hope meetings.
• We can help them by reaching out to other Finding Hope members.

Before you help your loved one again, ask yourself: Should they be able to do this on their own if they weren’t using drugs or alcohol? Am I picking up the pieces for them? Am I covering up their behavior? If the answer is yes, then you need to stop, pray for them, and repeat this sentence: “I am helping my loved one by not helping them.”

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

‍

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

Made for More: Finding Greater Purpose Through Scripture's Well-Known Personalities

What were you made for? This scripture reading plan from Hope is Alive Ministries examines different people in the Bible and uncovers how they —like you — were made for more.

Your addiction doesn't define you. You addiction doesn't limit you. You were made for more.

Start the plan here: Made for More

How to Stop Enabling an Addict

Keeping them comfortable in addiction is helping them to stay active in their addiction longer.

I recently heard one of my leaders share that saying with others. Think about it. Keeping them comfortable in addiction is helping them to stay active in their addiction longer.

So, what does that mean?

If we continue to catch them, protect them, do for them, shelter them, then they are comfortable. If they are comfortable, why would they need to change? 

I know that is sometimes hard to hear, but at Finding Hope we say it all the time “nothing changes, if nothing changes.” Change is hard, change is uncomfortable, change is scary. BUT if we expect and want different results but continue to do the same thing, the results are going to be the same. 

We know we can’t change others; we can only change ourselves. We can change our actions. We can change our words. We can change our responses. We can change our behaviors. We can change how we will allow others to treat us. But we can’t change them.

So, this week I want you to reflect over the saying: Keeping them comfortable in addiction is helping them to stay active in their addiction longer. What are you doing to keep your loved one comfortable? What is that one thing you have been wanting to change, but scared to change? Do it this week.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Josh 1:9 NIV

‍

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

Enabling Addiction

“I know I am an enabler, but…”

I am not sure how many times I hear that sentence when I talk to people on the phone. It is easy to admit that we are enabling our loved ones who are addicts, but not as easy to stop. Why?

Many times, we continue to enable our loved ones and their addiction because we are scared. We are scared of what might happen if we don’t “help” them. If we don’t help them find a car, pay for their gas, give them a safe place to sleep, give them money for food, bail them out of jail, call their boss, etc. But I want you to think about what might happen if we stop doing all of it. If we stop being their cushion. If we stop getting resentful of them for not seeking recovery after everything we do for them.

I know it is hard.

I know it doesn’t feel natural.

I know it doesn’t feel like love.

I know you are scared of what might happen.

But nothing will change if nothing changes.

If you are having a hard time, reach out to Finding Hope, attend a meeting, journal, and give it to God. We are all in this together, and we are all here to love and support one another. Finding Hope members understand the struggle, and they will help you through it. Remember, you are NOT alone.

‍

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

Learning to Trust God

When addiction steals someone you love, faith can feel fragile. It can be difficult to trust that God is working all things for your good. If you’re longing to believe that even when trust feels impossible, your pain has purpose, this plan is for you. This five-day devotional explores the journey of sorrow and surrender, and how even in loss, God is still good.

Start the plan here: Learning to Trust God

Finding Hope Goes International

In May of 2025, Amy LaRue, Director of Family Support Groups, opened her inbox to a message from a family in Australia. They shared that they had recently learned about Finding Hope and wanted to know more — what it was, what the ministry stood for, and whether something like this could even exist in their community.

Amy’s very first question to them was: “How did you find us all the way in Australia?”

Up until this point, in-person Finding Hope meetings were restricted to the United States. While Amy wanted to go international, she hadn’t yet had the opportunity to make it happen.

Australia Discovers Finding Hope

Trevor and Cheryl, in their search for support in the recovery world, were encouraged to listen to Ben Fuller’s music. While watching different concerts and performances on YouTube, one video led to another, and eventually, they stumbled across a video from Night of Hope.

In March of 2025, just a couple of months prior, Finding Hope celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a special event called Night of Hope. In the midst of Ben Fuller’s performance, a video compilation of testimonies from people affected by addiction played on the large screen behind the stage.

As the video played, Trevor and Cheryl realized they were watching families who were in the same position as theirs. Finally, they had found other people who loved someone struggling with addiction.

When they looked into Finding Hope, they learned that it was a faith-based support group specifically catering to the loved ones of addicts and alcoholics. They read that meetings provided attendees with education, inspiration, community, and hope. Instantly, they wondered why something like this wasn’t offered through their church.

Finding Hope Takes Root in Australia

After learning more about Finding Hope, Trevor and Cheryl reached out to Amy directly to ask questions and understand what it would take to bring a group to Australia. At that point, they were simply exploring whether this was something that could realistically work in their church.

​Amy responded and began walking them through how Finding Hope groups operate. It didn’t take long for Trevor, Cheryl, and their pastor to fully jump on board. Support for families impacted by addiction was limited in their area, and Finding Hope could fill a gap they had long recognized.

Their church has three campuses, and their pastor shared a desire to eventually offer Finding Hope at all three locations. From the beginning, the goal was to create consistent support across their church community.

​To make that happen, Trevor and Cheryl completed Finding Hope training and stayed in regular communication with Amy. They joined existing Finding Hope Zoom meetings in the United States to better understand the structure and flow of the groups. It was an easy way for them to see how meetings function in real time.

​At the same time, they began identifying others within their church who were interested in helping launch the ministry. They decided, given how new it was, that it would be best to launch Finding Hope at just one campus to start. This approach will allow their team to learn, adjust, and build a strong foundation before expanding to the other two campuses.

The first Finding Hope group in Australia is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 10th, with a second daytime meeting to follow on Wednesday, February 18th.

​This launch marks Finding Hope’s first international, in-person support group and represents a significant step forward in expanding support to families impacted by addiction beyond the United States.

‍

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

In this episode, we’re joined by Hope is Alive staff member Courtney Davis, who shares about her role at Hope is Alive and how addiction has personally impacted her life.

Together, we dive into a question many families wrestle with: Is addiction a brain disease, or is it a choice? Courtney walks us through her research on addiction and the brain, helping bring clarity to a topic that is often misunderstood.

Whether you’re personally affected by addiction or supporting someone who is, this episode offers wisdom, facts, and understanding.

For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today