The past is the past, I'm forgiven and free from my addiction – Laura's storyThe past is the past, I'm forgiven and free from my addiction – Laura's story
Real Recovery
Laura recounts how shame, eating disorders and alcohol shaped her life until faith in Jesus and the 12 steps brought her to forgiveness and freedom. Her story includes grief, a major stroke, and the steady joy of living without secrets in Christ-centred recovery.
49:37•14 Jun 2026
Forgiven, Free and Still Racing: Laura’s Journey from Addiction to Faith
Episode Overview
- Recovery in this show is framed through both the 12 steps and a clear focus on Jesus, with Step Seven highlighted as a moment of real surrender and action.
- Laura’s early shame and bullying fed into an eating disorder, showing how hidden pain can drive harmful behaviours long before substances appear.
- She describes alcohol as a secret companion that seemed manageable because of small quantities, yet it fuelled deep depression and constant lying.
- A season of unbearable depression led her to pray for relief and accept God’s repeated prompting to quit drinking, supported by her father’s example of decades-long sobriety.
- After a major stroke, Laura’s peace in saying she was forgiven and free shows the relief that comes from living without secrets and keeping God at the centre of daily life.
“The past is the past. I am forgiven, and I am living in freedom of my addiction, and I'm in a really happy place.”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? Real Recovery shares Laura’s story of addiction, faith, and a second chance at life, wrapped in the easy banter and humour of hosts Bill Arnold and George P. Fraser. This Christ-centred show mixes 12-step wisdom with Bible truth, and you’ll hear that clearly as George talks through Step Seven and the importance of actually doing the work, not just praying for change.
The tone is relaxed and chatty, yet very practical—this is aimed at people wrestling with addiction who want concrete guidance, not vague inspiration. Laura’s journey begins in a loving home, but early shame from cruel school rumours pushes her into an eating disorder. She explains how starvation felt like control, while bingeing and purging left her “devastated” and alone. Later, alcohol and even cocaine enter the picture, though from the outside she looks like a successful athlete and flight attendant.
She admits, “I’d lie to everyone to protect my so‑called best friend, which was my addictions.” A turning point comes when depression becomes unbearable and she prays for relief, only to sense God repeatedly saying she must quit drinking—something she fiercely resists. Inspired by her dad’s long-term sobriety, she finally agrees to “take this deal with God” and commits to a year without alcohol, stepping into AA and deeper Christian faith.
The episode’s title line arrives after a massive stroke in her late 40s. Lying in hospital, Laura tells her family, “The past is the past. I am forgiven, and I am living in freedom of my addiction,” grateful there are no more secrets to be uncovered. Daily Bible reading with her husband, serving others through coaching and swimming instruction, and staying honest about her weaknesses keep her grounded.
If you’ve ever wondered whether freedom and joy are possible after years of secret struggles, this story might be the nudge you need to ask, “What would my own ‘deal with God’ look like?”
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