Where Does Our Hope Come From? Miranda's Story

Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

“The Lord your God is in your midst. A mighty one who will save.” (Zeph. 3:17) Jesus entered human history to take our sin and shame to the grave, to make a way for us to know the nearness of God. Drugs, lust, 

violence, pride. No sin is too great for the blood of Jesus to wash away. On that, we build our hope.

MIRANDA

“I always thought it was the
drugs that were the problem.”

“I had a lot of shame and guilt.” For over a decade, Miranda was in and out of rehab and in and out of unhealthy relationships. A deep sense of shame kept leading her further into addiction. First alcohol, then meth and heroin, then the worst codependent relationship of all. “I thought I was a lost cause. I felt left behind. But looking back, God was there all along.”

After graduating her fourth treatment program, Miranda connected with an AA sponsor who started talking to her about what love was. “She was quoting verses from 1 and 2 Corinthians and saying, ‘Your relationship is not this kind of love.’” At the sponsor’s recommendation, Miranda eventually left the man she was with and came to UGM. “I was so lost, and I feel God was seeking me out.

“At UGM, I realized quickly that it wasn’t drug addiction that was my problem. It was the loneliness and lack of love I felt as a kid. The turnaround for me was when I started to find my worth in God, and I started finding out who I was. All the options here, it makes you burst out into who you are.  

“And I don’t have to be alone anymore. And not only that, but I am forgiven. Today I have another option, there’s not just hopelessness and fear and loss. It’s another option: moving forward, being successful, having hope.

“I don’t think you can have true
hope if you don’t have God in your life.” 

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. 

When hope is built on money, health, politics or people, it can be swept away as quickly as a sandcastle caught in a wave. But hope built on Jesus Christ cannot fail. That is why UGM offers faith-based Recovery programs and counseling. As Phil Altmeyer says, “We are not here to keep people homeless. We believe God has something so much better for them.”

Hear from Miranda at the 2023 LIFE Recovery Commencement.