Can an alcoholic go to heaven

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dee
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Dee

Guest
I am an alcoholic and I continue to reach out to God. I truly felt for the first time over Christmas that I finally heard him. I have battled with faith since becoming a teenager. I dealt with abuse, depression and addiction. Then I finally hear God talk to me, I truly believed I heard his voice. I thought I was saved and would have the strength to stop drinking, I made it a day, then my craving took over again, no matter how much I prayed, I drank again. I started an online bible class, I try to read the Bible but get very confused, I also took a pledge at church to go to adoration an hour a week and join a ministry, I want to visit the old folks home. I am only listening to christian music and pray all day but I still Drank. I want to do good and I help people anyway I can but I haven’t been able to stop drinking and I smoke too. I thought I was finally saved but I still picked up the drink. What is wrong with me? Can I overcome and what if I can’t stop? My brother died tragically due to his alcoholism, he fell down a mountain and froze to death, it destroyed me and that’s what took me on this journey to God, I’m also so scared for my brothers soul, he was a good person, so caring and willing to help others, especially me his little sis but now he’s gone and I’m so afraid. If anyone can help me it would mean the world to me. Thank you🙏🏻
 
Last edited:
I have no experience with this, but there is another CAF member who has struggled with alcholism and drug addiction. He does a good job staying clean. I messaged him a link to this thread. Hopefully he can help.
 
In confession, you can confess your drinking problem as an addiction which lowers your culpability. It replaces past instances of sin with grace and authorizes your angels more specific direction to aid you. Be sure to understand confession is not exactly compatible with the prayer regarding things you cannot change, as that is a step TO change it. Heaven is for some, a matter of keeping John 3:16 close by, believe in him suffering for you so you may enter. The crucifix represents in part for you, dying for your drunkenness. He took the blame for you and was punished for it. If you want to lighten the load on him, repent as best you can.

Side note: You (by your picture) are too pretty to waste away.
 
Oh my dear sister in Christ! Big hugs and lots of love being sent your way.

My father was an alcoholic throughout my childhood and into my young adulthood. He finally went sober in the last few years of his life, but the decades of alcoholism did such damage to his body that it shortened his life considerably. :cry:

Confess your sins of the past.

Seek help outside the confessional for getting and staying sober. Let God help you through His children here on earth. There are many sober alcoholics who can help you through their experiences, advice, and encouragement. Alcoholics Anonymous is an excellent place to start. Also, make an appointment for a complete physical and ask your doctor for advice. Ask questions. Ask more questions. Be proactive and take whatever small steps you can.

You are dearly, infinitely, unconditionally loved. ❤️

Now get the help you need to get started.

I’ll keep you in my prayers.
 
Thank you so much! I have joined AA several times, usually after treatment, I have severe social anxiety and after relapse I was so ashamed I couldn’t face them again. A terrible excuse I know and need to overcome.
I also had a bad experience with a member. I found out that he had been a problem with other females there and there are a lot of predators, at least in that particular place and I was afraid to go back to any on my town. I know I should be brave and try others here where I live.
 
Thank you. I tried to kill myself a few times in my life but I made a promise to myself and to god that no matter how bad things ever get I will stay. I want so badly to live my life now like God wants and I’m so thankful to Jesus for how he suffered for me and all of us. I wake every morning praying that I will have the strength not to drink, some days I overcome but too many I fail and feel such shame that I don’t deserve his forgiveness. I will never stop trying and thank you, you have given me such hope. I don’t want what Jesus did to be in vein. I will stay strong and never give up because of Jesus and people like you🙏🏻
 
I’m sorry that you attempted suicide, but glad you did not succeed. There is obviously a purpose in this world for you. I once asked a priest about homosexuality and repentance (for someone I cared about who refused Church) and he said “God did not create 10% of the population to simply go to hell.” He did not create alcoholics to simply go to hell. If you believe in creationism, you believe every tiny piece of you was created by a higher power. He took time out of his existence to make YOU. That is how much you matter in this world, that an all perfect being took a moment in the universe and thought, “this world needs Dee.” I don’t know why but he does, and he created a system called prayer so you can ask him.

I can help you with parts of your faith if you like because I am coming for a very treacherous journey and learned a lot along the way. If you want a friend who wants you to stick around, I’m here 🙂
 
Do you see a therapist or counselor for your sobriety? Many parishes have Al Anon type ministries. Look around and call your local parish for recommendations. You don’t have to be CAtholic to go.
 
I’m sorry you had a bad experience with a predator in AA. Unfortunately, these people are out there, looking to take advantage of the vulnerable. See if there is an AA group or a similar group, that would be just for women. Perhaps your priest or a mental health counselor can point the way to a group where you can feel safer.
 
Dee said:
I thought I was finally saved but I still picked up the drink. What is wrong with me? Can I overcome and what if I can’t stop?
Click to expand...
You have an illness, Dee. Addiction is a brain disease. It does respond to treatment, but you need to get help. Dont’ try to battle it on your own. Would you do that if you had cancer?
 
Dee said:
Thank you so much! I have joined AA several times, usually after treatment, I have severe social anxiety and after relapse I was so ashamed I couldn’t face them again. A terrible excuse I know and need to overcome.

I also had a bad experience with a member. I found out that he had been a problem with other females there and there are a lot of predators, at least in that particular place and I was afraid to go back to any on my town. I know I should be brave and try others here where I live.
Click to expand...
Yes, you have to keep trying until you find a supportive group. There are predators in AA, I am sorry to say, and there are some members that are quite offensive. See if you can find a church based group that might have more supportive members. Affiliate yourself with others in a sober support system where you can do volunteer work.
 
Dee said:
after relapse I was so ashamed I couldn’t face them again
Click to expand...
I understand this feeling, i feel the same before confession. I feel like the poor priest will quit his job after i confess, but fight the feeling! Personally i don’t admire perfect people (Jesus excluded) because there aren’t any; just people that you see sin and people that you don’t see sin. I admire people who struggle for good. If you struggle along the path of progress then i admire you, relapses and all.
 
Thank you and yes! I could use a friend! My family and boyfriend who helped me to get back to mass seems weirded out by how much I’m getting into it. He drug me to church 3 years ago, now I’m here, I’m doing Catholic bible study on you tube, I still have a hard time going anywhere by myself due to my anxiety, which I’m now thinking is the devil causing it but I’m still confused, is it the devil or actually a medical thing I need medication for. I also only listen to christian music and I’m watching christian movies. I feel like I’m freaking him and my parents out, they wanted me to find god but maybe they think I’m having an emotional breakdown based on my history. I even wonder but I truly feel God is reaching out to me, I’m praying it’s not some mental episode because I want so much to believe and to be saved! Sorry, I hope I didn’t sound crazy. I believe God has spoken to me and that I am on the road to salvation!!
 
Thank you guanophore, I do understand what you are saying and if I were in physical pain I would go to the doctor and I’ve gone too for my mental pain but it seems mental pain is much harder to treat and still not understood. Am I a sinner, mentally ill, spiritually sick, an acooholic because I choose to sin or do I have a disease? I think it’s a little of everything but it hurts that some think alcoholics are just sinners who don’t care or aren’t trying. I think there are different degrees of alcoholics too. Many are terrible and hit and abuse, are really mean like my first boyfriend. I have been selfish because of it but I never lashed and tried to use the courage it gave me to do good. Without it, I’m so scared, afraid to go out, afraid to do anything. It has always been my medicine to just leave the house and when I stop I’m afraid to leave the house at all.
 
Dee said:
I still have a hard time going anywhere by myself due to my anxiety, which I’m now thinking is the devil causing it but I’m still confused, is it the devil or actually a medical thing I need medication for.
Click to expand...
The two are not mutually exclusive. The devil loves to take advantage of our vulnerabilities, whether they are physical or mental. Of course the devil wants to keep you away from a sober support system that could help God work in your life. Medication can help you cope with symptoms, but it is good to continue to pursue spiritual solutions because meds cannot provide “cures”.
Dee said:
I feel like I’m freaking him and my parents out,
Click to expand...
Conversion experiences often freak people out because they are so powerful and life changing. An emotional/psychological breakdown as much as a physical is a good time to run to God.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top