“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30
Today’s post is in memory of Chenoa Marie Lucero and in honor of her mother, father, sister, son, and many more who loved her more than she could comprehend. All of whom miss her very much.
Today is the first anniversary of Chenoa leaving this earth for her heavenly home. Like many, Chenoa found herself with an addiction which ultimately ended her life just a few days short of her 32nd birthday.
Chenoa was one of those people you meet and just know there is something special about them. She was bright, beautiful, and full of hope and promise. Yet, like countless others, she didn’t know how special she was and what a bright future she could have. Something deep inside kept her from seeing what we saw: a precious child of God, gifted to bring light into dark places.
Addiction is a tool Satan uses to lure us away from who God created us to be. No matter your “medicine” of choice – drugs, alcohol, sex, food and so on – he uses it to mask the greatness God sees in us so we do not see anything of value to preserve. Internal emotional wounds no one can see need a healing balm, so we reach for whatever it is that will make us feel better. A temporary fix until the pain wells up again.
For those who have lost a loved one due to addiction, I want to give a special message to you. It’s not your fault. Internal wounds cannot be healed unless the Wounded express the desire for help. Please do not blame yourself for something you had no control over. Satan alone wants you to feel sad, discouraged, and somehow at fault so you will be useless in furthering the Kingdom of God. Please allow the healing balm from the One who loves you so very much to heal your broken heart. Jesus loves you so much! Please rest in knowing that. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
There are many forms of addiction. Some will kill, while others will dismantle a life and distort the beautiful image God has created. If this is a refection of you, please know you are more valuable than anything of temporary comfort. Each time you reach for whatever it is that brings you a momentary reprieve from stress or pain, please remember, you are more valuable and precious than any temporary fix. The God of the universe, the One who created you, wants you to know how precious and beautiful you are! He wants to comfort away your stress and pain. Please let Him! You are a child of the King and He has very special plans for you. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Psalm 62:6-7
If you know Jesus as your Savior already, then you know what to do now. Hit your knees and ask Him to heal whatever brokenness is inside you. If you let Him, He will. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
If however, you are reading this and are unsure of how you feel about God, salvation, and the ability of Jesus to truly save and heal you, then please read my “Do you know Him” page on the website. I promise it won’t hurt, but could possibly help change your life. Knowing Jesus changes everything for the better. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
May the Lord of all creation shower His great love on you this very minute.
Father God, I thank You for Your healing touch on our lives. Thank You for being the Great Healer of my life and for taking away hurt and worries from my heart. You alone are the One I reach for in times of stress and pain. Thank You Jesus, thank You Jesus, thank You Jesus.
On a side note, I have been asked by several if I mind if they forward the articles/devotionals on to friends and family. Do I mind? Absolutely not! In fact, I am honored that the thought is there. Please, if any of my posts, especially this one resonate with you, or you know someone who may benefit by these words, please, please pass it on. It is my sincere hope and prayer that anything I write be of encouragement and comfort to the reader.
Also, please add a comment if you feel you have something you’d like to share. You never know who will read each comment on the website and either be blessed or become a blessing to you. This is a public forum for all of us to be of support and encouragement to one another. Thank you so much.
In His embrace,
Toni
What a nice way to honor Chenoa. By helping others perhaps we can stop just one person from destroying what our Father has created. Peace be to you Lucero family. Praying for the healing.
Thank you Trease. That is my prayer, that even these simple words will help someone to avoid such pain.
Thank you for this precious story, I pray for healing for their family as well. I have an addiction to food and am struggling with that, I am claiming healing in the name of JESUS!! I have family members who have all kinds of addictions, our Lord is the only one who can heal us and set us free, some of them don’t know HIM, I pray for them all the time GOD hears and we have hope in HIM. God bless you..
Monica,
Thank you for your prayers on behalf of my friends. I know they will appreciate you too.
Please know Monica, that you are far more valuable than any food you can eat. The next time you go to pick up an unhealthy food to eat, I want you to look at it and say; I am worth more than you! And mean it! Because it’s true. God loves you so much and does not want you to destroy the temple of your body that He resides in. You are valuable and worthy of so much more!! God bless you Monica!! Merry Christmas!
This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing God’s love. I will forward this to my husband who has a gambling and eating addiction. I pray that it will speak and encourage him to seek God and continue to move forward in the healing process.
God bless you my beautiful sister in Christ!!!
Thank you so much!! I really needed this encouragement today!!
I hope and pray your husband will find encouragement and motivation in this devotional. It is my great hope and prayer that we will not have any more wasted lives due to addiction. Most addictions are only a cover up for what is buried deep inside. I pray your husband will seek help for what ever it is that makes him turn to gambling and food. May our God bring you comfort as you continue to pray for your husband’s recovery. Merry Christmas!
In His embrace,
Toni
Toni,
I just read this today….and I cried, again, as I have so many times this year. It is still so hard to believe Chenoa has been gone a year now. I have to say that Ben and I both have been down the fault road; however, we both pulled out of it. I cannot tell you how many times I have cried out to my heavenly Father for solace, and He was always there for us. So many prayers were said for our family; I truly believe that is what has kept me sane. I firmly believe God will use this tragedy to help others. This was a lovely posting, Toni, and I truly hope others will see the kindness in your heart for being ever so gentle in addressing addictions. Thank you!…and I thank everyone for their prayers. Vickie
Dearest Vickie,
I’m so thankful this post was some sort of a blessing to you. It was my intent to help honor Chenoa in a public way that would bring hope and help to others in the process.
Though I cannot take away your pain, I promise, if there is anything I have to say about it, Chenoa’s death will not have been in vain.
I will speak to this issue whenever possible and always with love and admiration for you and Ben and how the Lord has brought you together more deeply rather than this pain tearing your apart.
I join together with so many others in unified prayer for peace and comfort for you, Ben and Dyani this Christmas.
Remember how much you are loved, by me and more importantly, by our Lord and Savior.
Love,
Toni