April Richards 32 8 / 28 / 2023 • Sober Nation

Name: April Richards

Age: 32

Sober Since: 08 / 28 / 2023

Sober For: 1 Years & 98 Days

What it was like?

I was an alcoholic. I was depressed. Struggling daily to just get through my day. Struggling in my marriage and friendships. Struggling in my relationship with God.

What happened?

Sharing my testimony from August 28, 2024 🤍 Today is MY day. One year ago today, I chose to quit drinking. One year ago today, you would have caught me crying in my closet trying to convince myself that I was good enough. And all I could do was pray.. I chose to make a huge change in my life that I didn’t think was possible. I chose to choose me. I chose to choose God. I chose to choose sobriety… And I am forever grateful for my journey and now, my testimony. I am not one to put my personal stuff out there, especially on Facebook. I am honestly terrified to post this. But I post this to hopefully help someone and let them know they aren’t alone. They can do anything if they believe in themselves and trust God and put God FIRST in your journey. ANYTHING is possible with God. This is my testimony. This is my story. 🤍 I THOUGHT I WAS BORING ALCOHOL FREE! I THOUGHT I WAS A BORING WIFE, FRIEND, MOTHER ALCOHOL FREE… And I carried this belief around with me for so many years... I told myself I was too serious, too intense, too empathic, too quiet, not feminine enough, not likable enough, not pretty enough, too sensitive, not professional enough, not classy enough, NOT PERFECT enough... NEVER EVER WAS I ENOUGH... I drank to feel accepted., to be fun, to be loved…to have friends. I drank to feel comfortable in my own home. I drank to feel comfortable in my OWN skin. I drank to feel comfortable with my friends. I drank to feel comfortable with my husband. Yet...I didn't want to drink. In my head I'd rather be up early morning having coffee dates with my husband, yet I kept doing late nights drinks instead. In my head I loved getting up reading my Bible and praying, yet kept staying up drinking and sleeping in instead. I would say “I'm not going to drink anymore”, then I could not wait to get home and have a drink, to push away the day. I didn't believe in myself. I blamed everyone for my life not being what I wanted it to be- except me… I wasn't being real or honest with myself. Thank God I prayed. Thank God He listened. Thank God I LISTENED. Thank God I invested in myself. Thank God I took a risk on Me! And He took a risk on Me! Because FINALLY! Finally..finally... I believed in myself. I quit blaming everyone else. I started having faith. I let go of my victim story. I reclaimed my power. I started taking action. I started praying. I made new friends. I believed in me. I became my own hero. And God became my whole world, my heart. He took what was broken inside of me and completely transformed me. All I had to do was pray and he listened TO ME. He listened to ME, of all people. I now honor and love myself! Choose love!Choose to love God and have FAITH. I did… and He changed my life forever. I am Everything Worthy Alcohol Free! I am FINALLY free of the horrible thing that had taken over my entire life…. And all I had to do was pray.. I 100% believe that God took my addiction away. People ask how I quit. My only response is… “God!” TAKE DELIGHT IN THE LORD, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART 💜PSALM 37:4💜 This is my raw (but true) testimony.. This is my Story.. This is how God wrapped his arms around me and transformed me.. And He can transform you too! I don’t post this for attention. I post this to be a voice for people that are too afraid to BELIEVE in themselves. Just know, I believe in you. GOD believes in you. AMEN 🙏🤍🫶