JOY IN THE HEART: RELIEF! (Post 181)
February 25, 2026
To judge human nature rightly, a man [person] may sometimes have a very small experience, provided [s]he has a very large heart.
Bulwer-Lytton
With February’s Valentines and heart shapes festooned throughout the month, my attention is drawn to greeting cards echoing love, caring, and friendship. Indeed, receiving a valentine with a heartwarming message brings forth thankfulness, gratitude, and down-right joy. Then there’s that little red plastic heart handcrafted by the giver, in his eighth grade Industrial Arts class. Oh my! Did I feel special!
However, let’s flip the scene. What happens when relationships go south? Often this occurs in the setting wherein addiction prevails. Spouses, family members, friends, and work associates find themselves in the midst of communication problems, feelings of distrust, anger, and even isolation. Life begins to change in many ways … sometimes subtly, sometimes abruptly.
Even if an addictive disorder is not the issue, life changes can disrupt, advertently or inadvertently. A personal connection or relationship may no longer be in one’s daily life. A sense of loss and grief inhabits the space where once spontaneity and communication was part and parcel of regular interactions. Then what?
The mind, emotions, and body may begin to drive the bus with an overarching sense of betrayal. Unrealistic assumptions result in frustration and grief, all mixed together. In turn, expectations rise to unattainable levels, followed by even more tumultuous feelings.
Sadly, this is not necessarily rare. To some degree, mildly, intensely – or somewhere in between - it happens. It happened to me.
Eventually, I knew this debilitating cycle would just keep on, keeping on. I felt stuck like a broken record, repeating itself and not going forward. Yes, I prayed but I even got frustrated hearing my same old prayers.
Finally, I knew there had to be a complete change – in my thinking, my emotions, and my prayers. The following lists my then new way of praying. Prayerfully, may these be of help to you who are feeling stuck.
** I focused on my needing to change in regards to the situation at hand.
** I prayed - honestly - about my reactions / responses and confessed where I was wrong
** I asked for help in giving up any emotions that were misguided
** Finally, I asked for healing
** I took time with each plea, elaborating, detailing, and emptying it all out
** It was painful but I deliberately took my time, going slowly and thoroughly, through each part of the prayer within this letting-go process
** I wanted the healing to be a complete cleansing with no bouncing back and forth
So where does the JOY enter this narrative?
Within 5-plus minutes or so, I experienced an amazing sense of healing. Incredibly, the cleansing felt different, somehow complete; and gratefully, I continue to experience this, years and years later. My old thoughts/feelings/emotions for the situation remain wiped out.
What a RELIEF!!! That is where JOY comes into this story. Not only was there the sheer relief of all those negative feelings, but to experience this as a Divine intervention and cleansing was true joy!! I was not alone in this transformation!
In closing, for family, friends, and associates of persons with gambling disorder, Gam-Anon is an excellent resource and organization of support.
Check out www.gam-anon.org for further information and help. For a closer more personally expressed look at recovery through Gam-Anon, go to gam-anon.org/gam-anon-can-help/the-twelve-steps-and-reflections
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries
https://www.grmumc.org
855-926-0761
For more information on the IPGGC Clergy/Lay Minister Certification visit:
www.IPGGC.org NOTE: new web address!
International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization
For more information on gambling disorder and recovery issues, go to:
www.ipgap.indiana.edu
www.indianaproblemgambling.org
www.mdproblemgambling.com
www.gamblersanonymous.org
www.gam-anon.org
www.kycpg.org
www.pgnohio.org
www.calproblemgambling.org
www.christsd.com
www.masscompulsivegambling.org
www.mentalhealthministries.net
www.ablbh.org
www.joyintheharvest.com