Peter's story
From the heights to the depths, and then to Christ
(first published 22/09/08)
RAF Tornadoes over Inverness
 Hello, my name is Peter. I first came to live in the north of Scotland in the late 60’s. I have stayed in Lossiemouth, Aberdeen, Findhorn, Fort Augustus and now Inverness.
Formative years….
I was born an unwanted child into what today’s language calls a ‘dysfunctional family’. I feared my violent parents and hated my alcoholic father. I was starved of love. I cannot recall my parents every kissing, hugging or holding me, or showing me any affection whatsoever. At a very early age, feeling unloved, unwanted and worthless, I resolved to go it alone; relying on no-one but myself. For me there was no God. I was sexually abused and as a teenager suicidal thoughts were often with me. As a loner, I withdrew from the world into my own protective cocoon, sexual promiscuity and homosexuality became a part of my life.
Life begins…
On leaving school I started a flying career with the R.A.F. I enjoyed the “macho” lifestyle which encouraged alcohol abuse. Alcohol soon became my best friend. It blotted out my loneliness, shyness and inadequacy. It made me feel good and “one of the boys”. It gradually took control of me and my life as the increasing aloneness and loneliness within me demanded more and more of its emotional pain-killing abilities.
Without it I couldn’t relate to people and life; with it life became more and more troublesome.
Life ends…
In 1975, whilst overseas, I was hospitalised with a nervous breakdown. After lengthy psychiatric treatment, I was discharged from the R.A.F. And - as I slid deeper and deeper into alcoholism, homosexuality and mental illness - more psychiatric hospital admissions followed; along with time spent in police cells and courtrooms.
In 1985, homeless, unemployed and unemployable, rarely sober and living rough, I arrived in Inverness via Craig Dunain psychiatric hospital.
Over a ten year period I had received a lot of professional, medical and psychiatric treatment and therapy. All to no avail; nothing had a lasting effect. Three more desperate years followed.
Rescued….
Then one day in December 1988 I was at my rock bottom - drunk, desperate and suicidal. I fell on to my knees and cried out: “God, help me!” In doing so I invited God into my life for the very first time, having previously denied His existence. He answered my cry for help that very same day. The drinking stopped and within a few days I was introduced to the biblical 12-Step recovery programme of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Within six months God set me free from my alcoholic addiction, the mental obsession to drink left me completely. This was the beginning of a new life.
Restored…..
The love of God was a reality in my life. I knew from experience that He existed. I was amazed – no, “gobstruck” – as He continued to answer my prayers. My search for the Living God continued. Through what appeared to be circumstances (I know now that it was God’s provision for me), I was led to a Christian church where I learned about Jesus Christ and how He came to die in my place so that I could be forgiven all my sins and saved from an eternal life in hell. I made the decision to turn my back on my sinful lifestyle and surrender my life to Jesus. It was September 1989.
Since then many more miraculous things have happened. Here are some of them:
• Within the space of a few days from being unemployed and unemployable God provided a new flying job, a new home and a new car; and debts of over £5,500 paid off.
• A sixty-cigarette a day habit was broken
• A lifelong spine problem and high blood pressure were supernaturally healed.
• I was miraculously saved from a certain death
• I have been freed from satanic spirits that had kept me locked into a sinful and self-destructive lifestyle and behaviour.
As I have learned to understand and obey God through teaching, bible study and relating to other Christians, He is healing and restoring my mind and emotions. The deep wounds that originated deep within my being as a child have been brought to the surface and healed. I am becoming the man that God intended me to be. I have not “arrived” but I am, at long last, on the right track.
New life….
At times the going is tough; a new life surrendered to God is very different to my previous ungodly, rebellious, self-centred, destructive and unhealthy life. Is it worthy the cost? Definitely! I am seeing the Lord’s redemptive and restoring power at work in my own and other people’s lives. I accept it is a lifetime process but at the end of the day when my time on earth is finished I know that I shall be spending eternity in heaven.
Will you?
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Postscript
Over the period since the above was written, Peter has faithfully gone forwards in his Christian walk; and grown further through his diligent study of God's word in the Bible and in His relationship with his Heavenly Father. He is now being used by God to bring His love, healing and restoration to many who have been hurt and damaged in their journeys through life.
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You have just read Peter's story. If you do not have a personal living relationship with God, then please read on....
Life with God has its starting point when we accept His forgiveness earned for us by His Son, Jesus Christ; and his death on the cross. The new life in Christ is a journey in which we are free to allow God to transform us into all that we can be. Only when we submit our lives to God, to the love and goodness that He embodies, are we truly forgiven for all our wrongdoing, and released to experience the riches and depth that life has to offer in a restored relationship with God.
The Bible discusses this in many different ways, but two specific references you may want to consider are found in the book of John, chapter 3, and the book of Romans, chapter 10.
"I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me. (Proverbs 8:17)
'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
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