He Was Lost, Addicted, and Trying to Fix Himself Alone. Then Tyler Learned to Surrender.
- Pastor Rey
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Tyler Luera is a graduate of the Rise Discipleship men's home in Abilene, Texas. But before he walked through the door, he was a man with no idea where he was headed.
"Before coming to the home, I was lost, I was confused, and I was addicted and afflicted."
He was searching for himself, for his identity, in the very things that were killing him. It took him down a path of destruction. He had no sense of direction, no clear idea of where he was going. He was just trying to do it all on his own, in his own strength.
The First Thing He Learned
When Tyler arrived at the men's home, the first lesson wasn't a technique or a program. It was surrender.
"The first thing I learned was submission and obedience. I just wanted to be obedient to everything God was going to lay in front of me."
That included the home itself. Committing a full year of his life to it turned out to be, in his words, the best choice he ever made.
Dying to Himself, Living for Others
In that year Tyler learned perseverance. He learned to die to his flesh daily, to give up his old way of thinking and his old habits, to stop living only for himself and start thinking of others, serving others, living for others.
The change was profound. His whole perspective on life shifted, and he credits the glory of God, the brothers who surrounded him, and the leaders who hold him accountable and keep the heartbeat of the home going.
A Word for Anyone Still in the Fight
Tyler has a message for every brother and sister still in the middle of it, on the days it gets hard and you feel like giving up:
"Keep going. Keep pushing. Pray on it, go to God, and continue to push forward. There are blessings on the other side."
He has seen it firsthand. Opportunities have opened up for him simply through his obedience, and he holds onto a simple confidence about it.
"If God can provide for me, He can provide for you too. Just have full trust in Him and remain faithful."
Where He's Headed
Tyler's plans after the home are to walk through the doors God has already opened, opportunities offered to him by great leaders and people he met inside this ministry. He believes those are doors God opened for him, and he is genuinely excited to see where they lead.
He wants to thank Anthony and the leaders who keep the home running, the brothers who carried him and held him accountable, and Pastor Ray for making the home an option for a man like him.
"Without this home, I would never have had the opportunity to grow spiritually and have the relationship I have with God right now."
And he wanted to thank the people no one sees, the ones behind the scenes who make it all run. As he put it, we are a body in Christ.
If This Is You
Tyler was lost, addicted, and sure he had to figure it out alone. He didn't. If that's where you are, or if someone you love is trying to carry it by themselves, don't wait. It's free, a real person answers day or night, and it starts with one call.
Ready to reach out? Get help now. Freedom really is just one phone call away. (325) 232-5449.
And it's all free because of people like you.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or thoughts of suicide, you are not alone and help is available. Rise Discipleship's 24/7 helpline is (325) 232-5449.
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