Proverbs 23:29-35

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
Those who tarry long over wine;
those who go to try mixed wine.
Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
In the end it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter perverse things.
You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
like one who lies on the top of a mast.
"They struck me," you will say,
"but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I must have another drink."

We have all known grief, sorrow, and strife. Our choices in dealing with them are to turn toward God or away from him. Here we see the case of the one who turns away–and into a drug addicted lifestyle. And, this alcohol addiction is a downward spiral of escape. When I wake, “I must have another drink.”

God knows our every grief, sorrow, and strife. Psalm 56:8 says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” We can turn to him in confidence. He cares for us, and he is mighty to save.

How comforting it is to know that Jesus shed his blood for me and you. “It soothes my doubts and calms my fears, and it dries all my tears. The blood that gives me strength, from day to day, it will never lose its power.”