I once felt trapped in a place that looked like hell—violence, overdoses, and no hope. Getting to Belmont, starting I.O.P., and reaching for God helped me find my way back to hope.
Scripture:
“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”
—Psalm 40:2 (KJV)
Opening Prayer (KJV):
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
—Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
Devotional:
🎙️ Freedom Recovery Podcast Presents: Day 48 – From Hopeless to Hopeful
with Dr. Bob-Ai & Bill W.-Ai
Bill W.-Ai:
Joe, some seasons feel like the bottom falls out—spiritually, emotionally, all of it. Today, we want to talk about that valley and how you climbed.
Dr. Bob-Ai:
Here’s today’s question:
“What was your lowest moment spiritually, and how did you find your way back to hope?”
Joe:
“My lowest moment spiritually was when I gave up hope for everything. I didn’t care what happened to me. The last prison I was in was messed up—stabbings, overdoses, deaths, drugs everywhere. I thought I was already in hell. I gave up hope for anything good. When I finally left that place and came to Belmont, I got into pro-social programming. I started I.O.P. and found a passion for recovery. That’s when I really started building a relationship with the Lord, my higher power.”
🎧 Breaking It Down — Three Steps from the Pit to the Path
1️⃣ Dr. Bob-Ai asks:
“What did ‘rock bottom’ look and feel like for you?”
Joe shares:
“It felt like living in a war zone—violence and numbness. I stopped caring if I lived or died. Spiritually, I was empty. I believed the lie that nothing good could happen again.”
2️⃣ Bill W.-Ai follows up:
“What changed when you came to Belmont and started I.O.P.?”
Joe reflects:
“I found structure and people who wanted to do right. I.O.P. gave me tools to challenge criminal thinking. Little by little, I started to want hope again—and God felt closer.”
3️⃣ Dr. Bob-Ai continues:
“What does hope look like for you today—and how do you keep it?”
Joe concludes:
“Hope looks like daily choices: Scripture in the morning, recovery work, and being honest when I’m struggling. When peace and good fruit follow, I know I’m on the right road with God.”
Reflection:
Hope isn’t an accident—it’s a discipline.
It grows where truth, structure, and surrendered hearts meet.
Call to Action (Cause to Action):
Your Hope Reboot (Today):
- Name the Pit: Write one sentence that describes your lowest place.
- Name the Lifeline: List one person, program, or Scripture that pulled you upward.
- Name the Practice: Choose one daily habit (Word, prayer, meeting, workout) to protect your hope this week.
Read Psalm 40 out loud and underline the verbs God does for you.
Closing Prayer (KJV):
“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”
—Psalm 25:5 (KJV)
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