As I have mentioned in a previous post, I have
never done any drugs. However, I personally do know how certain medications
effect the brain, mind and body.
Many people studying science question God. As a scientist,
I find that science shows the beauty of God. The first moment that I can
remember God and science becoming linked together in my mind was when I sat in
a freshman biology course. I remember learning about photosynthesis of plants
and saying to myself, This is way too complicated to just occur out of nowhere.
Do I believe that people feel so-called “spiritual”
experiences using drugs?
Absolutely.
But to me, God is so much more than something we
can take a drug to experience. I experience God every single day without drugs. To me, God is not a crutch. To me, God is not a
man in the sky who I go to church every Sunday to worship. To me, God is not
just a word on the page of my Bible. To me, Jesus is not just a man who lived
centuries ago who died on a cross.
God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit lie at the center
of my life.
It has not always been this way.
Trust me, I have had my doubts, as I think
everyone has at one point or another. Going through everything that I went
through as a child and throughout growing up, I often asked where God was. I
went through periods where I felt like He was distant. I often asked myself why
He allowed me to go through everything I went through. I asked Him where He
was.
I will repeat… God is not a crutch. I do not just
say that I believe in God. I can honestly say that I know God exists and I am
at the point in my life where I do not think it is possible to prove to me that
God does not exist.
God carries all of us through the painful
moments, even when we feel like He couldn’t be further away.
When I was six years old and nearly died in a
house fire, I know God was there and He saved my life. When I was going through
everything I went through as a child, I know God was there and He helped me
through all of that. He carried me through everything. When I fell over 40 feet
a few years ago and suffered multiple fractured vertebrae, being told by the
doctors that they were worried that I may never walk again, God was there with
me. Not only that, but He helped me to get back
to running. When I run, I feel God’s spirit. When I was in the hospital
last October with dystonia, being unable to control my body and being told that
I may be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, I prayed to God that if it
was His will, then His will be done. I have been without the physical symptoms
for a few weeks now, having had bouts of spasms over the past few months. When
I was in the hospital a few weeks ago with catatonia, unable to eat or speak, I
prayed to God once again.
He continues to deliver me and help me through
everything that comes my way…
Do I believe that this drug or any drug, for that
matter, can be used to bring someone closer to God?
Absolutely.
Though I do not agree with using drugs, I know
personally that God can use anything to speak to us. He can use anything and
everything on this earth to help us hear from Him clearly. He can use anything,
any situation, anybody around us, to draw us closer to Him.
I know I would not be here if God had not
continually saved my life, not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally
and spiritually.
I have been reading a book over the past few days
about homeless youth. There is one story about a young man who went through
various challenges and obstacles throughout his life, many similar to mine.
There was one quote that I wanted to share from his story…
“God had a plan. There wasn’t anything spectacular
that took place, like a falling star or anything. I don’t know how I made it
this far in life. Here I am, not even believing in myself, that I’d be able to
go to college, and He paved the way. God is good. God is great.”
-Almost Home, p. 95
Amen.
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