Ganelle's Journey
By Ganelle Hansen | March 22, 2011
I grew up in a Christian family and went to Sunday school every week. I attended a Scriptural based program that was similar to Awana called the Missionettes and in the 8th grade I was crowned an honor star! I was outgoing, played sports, was a cheerleader and an active member in youth group. After my 9th grade year, my family moved from Oklahoma to Stanwood.
When I was sixteen it felt like my entire life changed. As I look back I realize that my life Journey started my sophomore year in high school. I can relate to the story of the prodigal son. Only I became the lost daughter.
The story of the prodigal son begins in Luke 15:11, “Jesus continued, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” The sons focus was shifted from his family to his inheritance.
My focus shifted from being Christ-like to fitting in. I no longer was worshiping God; I was idolizing the “cool crowd”. I missed my old friends, and the popularity I used to enjoy. I found myself enticed by the fun everyone seemed to be having by partying. And how I was able to let go and just hang out with people if I participated in their activities.
The son got what he asked for from his father. He got his fathers inheritance. The son wanted to be free and live as he pleased…he went to a distant land and squandered his wealth in wild living.
I too wanted to live as I pleased. My senior year I moved out of my parent’s house and I received the friends, freedom and independence that I longed for. Now that I was free I started with my own wild living. I thought I had it made. I had chosen the ultimate road in life…The fun one. I continued to turn my back from my Father in heaven. As a result I moved further and further down that road of darkness. My perception of innocent worldly fun became the demon that ensnared me. I became a drug addict.
The road I chose became so dark and so narrow. I could find no way out. The lure of a fun time and cool friends was eventually forgotten as I became a slave to drugs and completely isolated.
The prodigals son’s wealth was not squanded immediately, but eventually he was living with the pigs. In the same way my addiction didn’t occur overnight. It was an entrapment process orcastrated by Satan.
Quickly I found my life out of control. My drug and my disease of addiction was in charge. I found myself living with modern day pigs; lying, stealing, cheating. I did whatever was necessary to feed my habit. The prodigal son ate the pig slop to survive; I was eating Satan’s lies.
At the end of my using I had lost my everything: my money, my job, my car, my apartment, my credit. I had lost everyone: my so called friends, my family, my relationship with God. And I had lost myself. I was no longer that 8th grade honor star I once was.
I had chosen the wrong road and couldn’t turn back. I felt I was alone, scared and dying. I was in active addiction. The only future for me was jail, institution, and death.
Thankfully God had a different plan for me. He rescued me from that dark and narrow path. He saved my life and helped me realize that is was time to return to Him and my family. Through out this whole time, I know many people were interceding for me before God. Thank you everyone for your prayers because they saved my life.
In the parable, the father greeted his son with open arms and celebrated his return. The Father said “This brother of yours was dead and is alive again: he was lost and now is found”. I completely relate as I am no longer deadened to sin, by drugs, by Satan. However, I am completely born again through Jesus and forgiven.
I know that God did not make me an addict; my choices took me down that path. God did, however, seek me out, find me, and rescue me from the decisions I had made. Because God uses all things for His glory, I am able to witness to a crowd of other recovering addicts and I am completing school to become a drug and alcohol counselor.
The road I chose was the wrong one but God saved me, changed me, and is now using me for his purpose.
Back
When I was sixteen it felt like my entire life changed. As I look back I realize that my life Journey started my sophomore year in high school. I can relate to the story of the prodigal son. Only I became the lost daughter.
The story of the prodigal son begins in Luke 15:11, “Jesus continued, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” The sons focus was shifted from his family to his inheritance.
My focus shifted from being Christ-like to fitting in. I no longer was worshiping God; I was idolizing the “cool crowd”. I missed my old friends, and the popularity I used to enjoy. I found myself enticed by the fun everyone seemed to be having by partying. And how I was able to let go and just hang out with people if I participated in their activities.
The son got what he asked for from his father. He got his fathers inheritance. The son wanted to be free and live as he pleased…he went to a distant land and squandered his wealth in wild living.
I too wanted to live as I pleased. My senior year I moved out of my parent’s house and I received the friends, freedom and independence that I longed for. Now that I was free I started with my own wild living. I thought I had it made. I had chosen the ultimate road in life…The fun one. I continued to turn my back from my Father in heaven. As a result I moved further and further down that road of darkness. My perception of innocent worldly fun became the demon that ensnared me. I became a drug addict.
The road I chose became so dark and so narrow. I could find no way out. The lure of a fun time and cool friends was eventually forgotten as I became a slave to drugs and completely isolated.
The prodigals son’s wealth was not squanded immediately, but eventually he was living with the pigs. In the same way my addiction didn’t occur overnight. It was an entrapment process orcastrated by Satan.
Quickly I found my life out of control. My drug and my disease of addiction was in charge. I found myself living with modern day pigs; lying, stealing, cheating. I did whatever was necessary to feed my habit. The prodigal son ate the pig slop to survive; I was eating Satan’s lies.
At the end of my using I had lost my everything: my money, my job, my car, my apartment, my credit. I had lost everyone: my so called friends, my family, my relationship with God. And I had lost myself. I was no longer that 8th grade honor star I once was.
I had chosen the wrong road and couldn’t turn back. I felt I was alone, scared and dying. I was in active addiction. The only future for me was jail, institution, and death.
Thankfully God had a different plan for me. He rescued me from that dark and narrow path. He saved my life and helped me realize that is was time to return to Him and my family. Through out this whole time, I know many people were interceding for me before God. Thank you everyone for your prayers because they saved my life.
In the parable, the father greeted his son with open arms and celebrated his return. The Father said “This brother of yours was dead and is alive again: he was lost and now is found”. I completely relate as I am no longer deadened to sin, by drugs, by Satan. However, I am completely born again through Jesus and forgiven.
I know that God did not make me an addict; my choices took me down that path. God did, however, seek me out, find me, and rescue me from the decisions I had made. Because God uses all things for His glory, I am able to witness to a crowd of other recovering addicts and I am completing school to become a drug and alcohol counselor.
The road I chose was the wrong one but God saved me, changed me, and is now using me for his purpose.