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Hope Anew

For the last couple years, there has been so much that has come in the form of adversity towards Lanie’s Hope.

Frustration, stress, tragedy and loss – all of these things have come into play, and the temptation has been to despair.

Have we been doing the right thing? Is this all truly worth the effort and sacrifice, in the face of everything that has occurred? It is true life brings such difficulty at times that it can all feel as if it is too much, too weighty a sacrifice, and too high a climb.

But we do remember something – actually, two things.

The cause itself that we fight for is difficult; and we do not fight in our own strength.

Recently, our founder Bea Aikens was interviewed by the LA Times regarding the mission of Lanie’s Hope, and this in part centered on this topic. In the passing of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the addiction in the form of compulsive gambling rose to new heights. The difficulty of this addiction in its very nature, practically ensures a difficulty of a different manner in recovery and stamina of those in such recovery and therapy. This addiction is not a visible one to the naked eye. To the public, the solution is an easy action, a red stop sign, a gathering of strength for the common good and betterment of the individual. But it is, after all, an addiction. There is great difficulty, sweat and tears in recovery. Real people come with real problems that are solved by real solutions. Yes, the cause we fight for is difficult.

However, we never are to fight in our own strength. This is a universal fact, albeit with differing sources of that strength. One way that we can avoid fighting in our own strength is in the company of others. In this same LA Times article, all of the individuals whose stories were explored were impacted for the better by others around them, whether family, friends, or others who impacted them in a positive manner.

For those who, like our own Bea Aikens, hold to the faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian teaching, the source of strength is seen to come from God, who gives His followers the strength to carry on through difficult and trying times, including that of addiction. This is strength that humanity cannot explain, and that surpasses difficulty. Although this does not guarantee a problem-free or easy life, it promises a beautiful word and concept to those who are struggling with gambling addiction; that word is Hope.

It is with this strength, and in this hope, that we seek to move forward, grow and thrive at Lanie’s Hope. We are fully invested and excited to see where this journey takes us, and we look forward to being used to impact others reach them with the message of hope.