I cried out to God in complete surrender, and it changed everything – Patrick's storyI cried out to God in complete surrender, and it changed everything – Patrick's story
Real Recovery
Patrick recounts a lifelong struggle with alcohol that began in childhood, including relapses, duis and prison time. He shares how crying out to God in complete surrender and committing to Christ-centred recovery transformed his heart, relationships and daily life.
49:37•13 Sept 2026
Patrick’s Lifelong Battle with Alcohol and the Moment Surrender Changed Everything
Episode Overview
- Sobriety can require repeated surrender, especially after multiple relapses and heavy consequences.
- Stopping meetings, church and recovery support was a consistent trigger for Patrick’s relapses.
- Prison became a place where Patrick turned fully to Jesus, leading bible studies and helping other men.
- Serving others—through sponsorship, practical help and everyday kindness—strengthened his recovery.
- Daily time in prayer and scripture helped replace hatred and fear with peace and a new heart attitude.
“I just cried out to God in complete surrender and submission and yielding to everything he wanted to do in my life, and it just changed everything.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This Real Recovery episode follows Patrick, a lifelong alcoholic who started drinking at eight and spent decades bouncing between addiction, faith, and relapse. You’ll hear how Patrick grew up with an abusive alcoholic father and a mum who was born again, sitting at that tension between church pews and chaos at home.
He talks about getting saved at a Billy Graham crusade as a child, becoming a blackout drinker by his teens, and quitting drugs at 21 because he longed for a real relationship with Jesus and a "normal" life. The conversation with hosts Bill Arnold and George P. Fraser digs into the painful reality that sobriety isn’t a straight line.
Patrick describes multiple relapses, duis, losing custody of his son, and a recent felony dui that led to a year in prison. He’s very clear that every relapse started the same way: he stopped going to meetings, church, and recovery groups, decided he "had a plate", and tried to run life on his own power. In prison, everything shifted. Patrick began listening constantly to Christian radio, leading his own bible study, and helping other men.
He recalls hating a fellow inmate until God convicted him that he couldn’t worship and hold hatred in his heart. From there, he started serving others and saw a hardened gang member come to Christ in his cell. As he puts it, "I just cried out to God in complete surrender... and it just changed everything." The episode is especially suited to people wrestling with relapse, faith-based recovery, or feeling "too far gone".
It highlights daily surrender, the 12 steps, the Salvation Army’s role in recovery, and practical service—like fixing cars for those who can’t afford a mechanic—as ways to live out faith. If you’re wondering whether God can use your mess for something meaningful, could Patrick’s story prompt you to take one small step toward help and hope today?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.