Stepping into Trust: A Poetic Journey of Recovery
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About this ebook
This is a story about overcoming addiction with God’s help. It is a story about addiction and recovery and the faith to overcome. It is a brave story about addiction and recovery told through poetry and raw experiences. Stepping Into Trust guides readers to discover steps to recovery and the hope that leads to healing.
Author Brenda Rausch writes from the heart to connect with the emotional pain of dark moments and the joy of walking into deeper trust, belonging, and inner peace. It’s one of those unique books about addiction and recovery that deals with past emotional trauma and the incredible healing process of trusting God.
You’re not alone. Brenda Rausch understands. She understands the power of addiction and the challenges of recovery.
Through her inspiring journey to recovery, you’ll learn how to overcome addiction with God through art, poetry, and personal stories. Stepping into Trust: A Poetic Journey of Recovery lyrically details a recovering addict’s path to acceptance and healing as she learns to trust in God, herself, and the power of personal transformation. Start your journey to recovery today.
Brenda Rausch
Brenda Rausch is passionate about sharing her experiences, strength, and hope with others on a recovery journey. She holds a master’s degree in addiction counseling, is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and has worked in the addiction treatment industry for twenty years. Brenda and her husband, Tom, have three children and reside in the St. Croix River Valley. Theresa Dearone is an anointed artist who loves Jesus. Her painting inspiration sometimes comes from a song, a feeling, or where she is with the Lord. Theresa is a native Californian who recently moved to the Midwest with her husband, Pete, where they are enjoying retirement
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Book preview
Stepping into Trust - Brenda Rausch
Copyright © 2018 Brenda Rausch.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,
graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by
any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author
and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of
the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of
people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission
of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The
NIV
and New International Version
are trademarks registered in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in
this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views
expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are
models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
Interior Image Credit: Theresa Dearon
ISBN: 978-1-9736-4189-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-9736-4190-2 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-9736-4188-9 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018911898
WestBow Press rev. date: 01/26/2023
This book is dedicated to my fellow travelers on the journey.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Addiction and the Past
Early Recovery
Cravings and Triggers
Dealing with Emotions: Fear and Anger
Dealing with Emotions: Grief and Loss
Finding Identity
Staying the Course
Connection and Belonging
Trusting God
Gratitude and Courage
Notes
List of Poetry by page
Poetry Index by topic
Acknowledgments
W ords feel inadequate to express how grateful I am for all the people who supported and inspired me to share my story and poetry in a book. I have been blessed beyond measure.
• To my family, especially my incredible husband, Tom, who loved me throughout this journey.
• To Theresa for her generous contribution of beautiful artwork.
• To Marie, who helped me give birth to this book through her skilled, gentle guidance.
• To others who encouraged me to continue when I felt like abandoning the project, especially Lindsay, Jeanine, Heather, Annetta, Jack, and Ray.
• To all my friends who came alongside me with their prayers, words of hope, strength, and comfort.
• To God be all glory, honor, and praise!
01Intro.jpgIntroduction
T he poems in this book were birthed over several years, with the majority coming after I celebrated my one-year anniversary of freedom from alcohol. I use the term birthed because of the mental and emotional labor pains I felt when writing them. Initially I was calling them hairballs because it felt like a primal form of purging. Then I came to the realization that I needed to honor the process. Inspiration came from a higher source, from God, helping me heal through a form of expression with which I was not familiar.
If someone would have predicted that I was going to write poetry in this quantity and eventually put them out there for the world to see, I would not have believed them. I have come to believe that God can do far more than we ask or imagine in our lives. It’s amazing what we can do when we step out in faith. God sure does work in mysterious ways. Transformation and change is a primary activity in the process of recovery.
These poems were an integral part of my recovery journey. They helped me heal. My hope and prayer are that they will be helpful to you on your journey as well.
The Poetry
Around my one-year sober anniversary,
All these poems spill out of me.
The words come forth as I approach places of wonder and pain.
Pondering the next phrase with great regard,