Yobe is an abusive alcoholic. Alcohol is how he copes with the pain he has inflicted on his family. He is admittedly “lost” and spends his days drinking, stealing, and beating his wife and children.
When Yobe’s wife returned to their home with The Story of Jesus booklet one day, he began his normal routine of verbally abusing her.
But then he picked up her booklet.
He knew nothing of the healing power of Jesus, but as he held the booklet in his hands, Yobe read “…the words of God that were on it.” He was deeply moved.
This is when Yobe came face to face with his own brokenness. He was not simply an abusive alcoholic, but a lost son—a lost son that needed to be found.
At the encouragement of a friend, Yobe began meeting with a spiritual life group, where he was given a New Testament Bible. In the safety of that group, Yobe expressed his deep desire to seek God’s forgiveness and change his life for the good. He is experiencing true joy for the first time in his life.
Scripture:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Prayer
Have mercy on us, O God. In our brokenness we have hurt those around us in powerful ways. We cannot change our past, but we can lay claim to our future by confessing our sins and allowing you to transform us from the inside out. Change is not easy, and so we look to you as we hear your words, “Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘ This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21