Faith Walk — EP V
Faith Walk, a blog series covering real stories from real people on their journey to faith and redemption. Read Episode IV HERE
Everyone wants to be accepted and loved. I spent my early teenage years searching for acceptance. I didn’t care much about what most guys cared about: football, wrestling, sports etc, so this left me out of many circles.
In my early adult years, I bought into the narrative that alcoholic beverages were essentials for manliness — as advertised, “for real men only”. When I drank, I got the validation of being ‘man enough’… Finally, I was let into the rowdy circle of new drinking buddies. I finally found some acceptance, but it wasn’t long before things started getting out of control.
I remember the days of drinking until I passed out. One of the most defining moments of my faith walk has been waking up from a deadly hangover, feeling completely sick to my gut, lost, hollow and empty, and asking God for help to stop drinking. It has been over four years and I have not since had the slightest urge nor bothered with drinking.
Four years away from that silent prayer, I have learned that the best form of acceptance is not the type any man can give; it is the acceptance that comes with no condition and requires no performance. I am accepted and validated by God. I am loved by Him. Most importantly, he takes me seriously enough to listen to every little whisper of prayer or chat I have with him.
As told by Makuochi Okafor
Makuochi Okafor is a Jolly fellow. He loves God, loves to travel and will go where ever good food goes. He is a writer and a Content Strategist.
