He Can't Make It...Or Can He?

Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." [NIV]

“Oh, my God! I had never seen anything like that!” exclaimed one of my co-workers as I was examining a male inmate, brought by the unit deputy.

He was grimacing in pain. He couldn’t sit up straight, complaining of pain coming from his back. He couldn’t sit right. He was trying to not put pressure on the right buttock. With both wrists secured by a handcuff, he kept moaning slightly.

The deputy pulled me aside. He said, “Ma’am, I just wanted you to know, I never hit him anywhere but only to his left forehead and maybe just the stomach area.”

The inmate just got booked and was just housed in their unit. While waiting to be assigned to have his own bed, the inmate rose to his feet and took a stance. Raising both of his fists up, he was going to aim at the deputy. That was a big mistake! The deputy who went to months or years of training for defense, got him first. In no time, the inmate was down on the floor, subdued and both wrists secured right away with a handcuff.

I lifted the man’s shirt on the back. To see where his complaint of pain was coming from. The deputy had a good reason for telling me where he hit the inmate. On the left side of this man’s body, there were 2 huge visible marks, a big welt with severe discoloration. One on the left buttock, close to the hip and one on the lateral side. But I knew it wasn’t caused by a blow. It looked more like an abscess. Lifting the shirt higher, I found 2 more bumps that looked the same as the previous abscesses. One closer to the right hip and where he was complaining of pain the most was coming from the biggest abscess on the right lower buttock. No wonder he couldn’t sit straight!

“Sir, you have to tell me where these infected areas came from! Were you using heroin?”

“Yes,” was the soft reply with a slight shaking of his head, afraid of what was discovered.

“I had someone shoot it into my back! And I use it everyday!” he added.

“Whewww….,” my co-worker uttered when she saw these. “I had never seen anyone shoot heroin into their backs. Those looked awful. I don’t think he’ll change,” she commented.

I sent the man to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. I would like to believe, too that there was no more hope in his situation. So trapped in the web of heroin use. But so, it would be the same for others, trapped in adultery, other substance abuse, robbery, pornography, and I could go on and on. But you know what…That was us thinking…Humans…So limited with knowledge and understanding. What we wanted to believe wouldn’t be the same for God Who believed in restoration and healing, otherwise. The One Who sent His own Son to die on the cross to set all of humanity free. That is…if we believe. In that truth!

I pray that most of the heroin users I come in contact with, will discover that their false source of peace and comfort and elation from using this illegal substance is only temporary and destructive. True peace and comfort only comes from knowing Jesus Christ! That’s the truth!

18 comments:

  1. You walk in a tough world. Thank you for sharing a glimpse. Keep shining His light in the darkness. The Lord Bless YOU!!

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  2. I wish so much that so many knew of the wonderful freedom that comes from knowing Christ. Including my sisters and brother. Only He can bring total and complete healing and restoration; no one or nothing else will do!

    My heart is so burdened for my sister that tried to take her life. Things are not going well for her. I would love for her to see this video.

    Hugs,
    Lisa

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  3. Wow this was an amazing post. I loved the video. I also love your photo on your hearder.
    I am in youth ministry within a youth prison.
    Thanks for sharing this.

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  4. That was great, Dear ~ Congratulations on your award! You need to post it, so your friends will know about it. :) Blessings ~

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  5. My heart rejoices as I think on the truth that our Lord God reaches out in mercy and grace to us, that He brings healing and restoration.

    You're so right that in our human selves, only failure is possible.

    What a wonderful message!

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  6. The world is so filled with misery. I don't see much of the side that you see at work but I thank you for making us all aware of how blessed we really are.

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  7. Thanks for sharing this, God bless you.

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  8. Amen! nothing is impossible with God! Jesus can turn lives upside down & make them right ! He says I am God , is there anything too hard for me ? I am praying for you as you minster to those around you.
    Blessings,
    ~Myrna

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  9. It's funny how we end up at the jobs we have,or is it. God has you were you need to be.
    Blessings,
    Ginger

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  10. I know many addicts that have become saved.
    Most of us didn't need to be convinced that we were rotten lost sinners on our way to hell. All we needed to hear was there is a way of escape from our addictive life styles. Many of us found that answer is in Jesus.

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  11. It really pays to get the word out about the horrific end result from using drugs. People get addicted, and it starts taking over their lives. I think knowing that helped me when I was a kid. I was offered plenty of things at school from drug-users, but I didn't want to even try something that would take over and control my life. Great post, Rosel!

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  12. Hey sister Rose!!

    Wonderful post and I loved the video!!!

    It saddens my heart to see humanity in the grip of sin. BUT thank you Jesus for making a way for each and everyone. Freedom through Jesus is available to all and that's the wonderful Truth!!

    Have a blessed week - He holds you in the palm of His hand!!

    Love, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
    Jackie

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  13. Dearest Sister, you always share with truth, power and passion in the LORD and I am constantly blessed, encouraged and at times challenged in your sharing and that's why I love you as I do. You have a FIRE FOR JESUS and I love it!

    Congratulations on Top 100 and to GOD be all the glory. Keep sharing Him with all your heart. Love you.

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  14. Rose, this post is a true testament to the life of living for Him. Blessings.

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  15. I hate that enemy, so deceitful and lives are wasted, that is until Jesus intervenes and I pray that many oppressed as this man will come to the truth.

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  16. It is amazing how the power of truth can move us form hopelessness to hope. I liked how you brought the common things we deal with right after having us consider the difficulty of heroin. It shifted the truth of sin from him to us, and shifted the hope of healing power is what we all need in one way or another. Praying for you as you head out for another shift. ~

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  17. Joining you in prayer for these Heroine users! Praying GOD will penetrate through the lies and deceit of the enemy and heal and restore their hearts, minds, and bodies.

    Thinking about you and praying you have an awesome week. Battling allergies/asthma, here.

    Hugs, andrea

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  18. My goodness! I didn't realize it before now, but I'm sure you see a lot where you work at. How fortunate that we, as your readers, can glean from your writings. What a blessing, at least to me! :)

    Thank you for your lovely comment today. Reading yours and all those who left me comments sure made my heart swell with love and understanding. I sure missed you! I pray you are doing well.

    God bless you today and every day!

    Georgia

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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