There was no solution. Believe me I had tried them all! It was in this despair that I found God. It’s amazing that in great weakness God’s power is displayed. I learned of others who had faced similar difficulties and who had opened up their lives to God. They had asked God to deal with the problem and he had responded. As I sought to do this and exercise faith and trust I found that God was able to do for me what I could not do for myself. Previously I put every ounce of human effort into abstaining from alcohol with no results. Suddenly it had become infinitely easier to stay sober and it was not through my own efforts. The burden of the alcohol problem was no different. The difference was that I asked God to take the burden from me!  

My real search began with the Bible

I was off the drink for about three years and found that I was still seeking in my relationship with God. I wondered about who God was and why He broke into my life. I had not become a Christian when I started in my journey of sobriety, but I believe now that Christ was leading me at this time.  

Due to this hunger for God I started searching through the bible for some sort of an explanation! At the same time I visited some local churches looking for answers. Eventually I found my way to a church in the south side of Glasgow where I attended a prayer meeting and subsequently also attended this and other services regularly. I was introduced to Jesus through the word of God in the bible and I came to the point where I realised that the God that dealt with the alcohol problem was the God of the bible revealed in Jesus Christ.  

Then I came to understand something more spectacular, that Christ had not only dealt with my alcohol problem but had dealt with every wrong act of my life! This meant I still needed God’s forgiveness and that he made this available through the death of his son Jesus Christ who was crucified, and who took on the full burden of my sin so that I could have a relationship with God. So I then prayed for forgiveness and committed the rest of my life to Jesus Christ.  

'Nowadays this idea seems a bit corny to some'

Nowadays this idea seems a bit corny to some … and for others it sounds offensive. We could debate the matter all day long, but the fact remains, that it was God that changed my life and no amount of effort or strength of my own could have accomplished what God has done for me. He dealt with the alcohol problem and he dealt with my sin.

 The pressure is off! God is in control….not me.

 What’s happened since!

As a Christian God has led me into a number of areas of service. Today I’m studying Theology full time at the International Christian College in Glasgow. I’m also involved in the management of our church football team, which is a great way to help, both physically and spiritually, young fit guys who are keen on sport. (soon I may not fall into any of these categories!).

Playing drums in the church band is another of my pursuits! In recent years I’ve had the pleasure of travelling to Tanzania, East Africa, where I was involved with others in mission camps for children and teenagers. This took the shape of bible teaching, games and spending time with those who attended. Incidentally, it was at one of these camps that I met my wife!

Perhaps the most exciting thing about all this is the fact that God has His hand in it all and, despite my changing moods and experiences living in this world, He has never let me down. Even when I fall short He lifts me up, and His word and faithfulness towards me has been more than sufficient to sustain me through the highs and lows of the Christian life.

I too think the Christian message is really good news!

Here are two verses from the Bible that tell you how you can become a Christian

Rom 10:9-10 ...if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are save -  It’s true, believe it! 

Alan Guy

An Invite

If you would like to find out more about the Christian faith, and what God can do in your life then please feel free to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it we would be happy to send you a portion of God’s word and to direct you to a Church in your area where you will find help in knowing God personally.

We would recommend the Alpha or Christianity Explored courses, which really explain the Christian faith in a very relevant way. You should try one!