From the Author’s Heart
An Introduction to A Hand to Hold Along the Road-Lessons from the Backseat and it's author, Rena Henson
For many years, my life was one big mess. I was drinking, drugging, smoking and running. I knew nothing about peace or genuine love. I hopped from party to party but never found true enjoyment in life…until I met Jesus. He is awesome! He makes it clear that…
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”
—John 10:10 AMP
I know that there are many of you who have endured tremendous hurts and hardships. Satan has robbed you of the abundant life Jesus promised. I want to help you by sharing the only real and never changing truths that we can hold on to in this world.
The desire to help started one day years ago during a time of prayer when I was a new Christian. God showed me a vision that really freaked me out. I saw an uncountable sea of arms and hands reaching up from utter darkness for light. Quite shaken, I jumped to my feet and said, “I don’t know what you want me to do with this God, but I think you’ve got the wrong chick!”
Twenty years later, that vision has never left my heart. I have cried many tears while interceding for those in darkness — including those in churches. I have not forgotten where I have come from. I too was once in darkness — great darkness. I was reaching for truth, light and something real to hold on to.
Before I found what I so desperately needed, I believed many misconceptions about God. I trusted the opinions and rants of others about a God they did not know. They were “unreliable messengers,” and as Scripture says, “unreliable messengers cause trouble…” (Proverbs 13:17 GNT)
I also thought it was impossible to live for God. In my mind, to live for Him meant bondage—there were too many rules and regulations. I was not willing to give up what I thought was my freedom. Lies like these are what the enemy of our soul wants us to believe. His only goal is to keep us from truth, and by doing so, keep us separated from our Creator and Father, God.
When I finally hit rock bottom twenty-one years ago, I was faced with the choice to give up or look up. I chose to look up and try the “God thing.” When I did, I began to learn that everything I once thought true about God were nothing but lies. Freedom is not being able to do whatever you want to do. True freedom is having the power to do what’s right. At that point, I made a commitment to go to church faithfully every week. Instead of being in bed until noon with a hangover, I went to church—even when my family and friends made fun of me. I didn’t go because I had to. I went because I wanted to. I had a hunger inside of me to learn what the Bible really said and why.
As time passed, I developed relationships with other Christians and learned to be transparent with them. I also began to understand what it meant to submit to the authority of the leaders God had placed in my life. I’m so grateful that God stopped me dead in my tracks and helped me turn completely around. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, He has enabled me to make radical changes in my life, because radical change was what I needed. With great appreciation, I can now say I am sober and have lived smoke and drug free for over twenty years!
As you read through these lessons, know that God is with you. He wants to hold your hand if you will let Him. He says in His Word, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13 NIV).
God’s love for you is real, His Word is relevant, and He wants to set you free to live abundantly! Open your hearts, dear friends, as you consider these lessons from my life, and see what God speaks to your heart.