Loving an Addict & Living With GriefSample

Grief doesn’t only follow death. Sometimes, it walks hand in hand with life—especially when you love someone who is battling addiction. You may find yourself mourning the person they used to be, the relationship that once felt secure, or the future you imagined together. There’s a quiet ache that comes from broken trust, distant conversations, and unmet hopes. This kind of grief is often invisible to the world, but not to God.

I remember sitting across the table from my husband, hearing him speak, but realizing I didn’t recognize the man in front of me anymore. The addiction had changed him. I missed who he used to be. I missed us. And yet, he was still alive—just unreachable. That moment was when I truly felt the weight of this unique grief.

The father in the story of the prodigal son experienced this grief. His son was alive but lost (Luke 15). He waited with hope, but also with the ache of missing someone still living.

We must remember that God is with us in our grief. He sees every tear, every prayer whispered in the dark, every piece of your heart that feels lost. But He doesn’t just see it, He sits with you in it.

Take a moment to honestly reflect:

What are you grieving because of your loved one’s substance use disorder?

Write it down. Name it. God can handle your honesty. And in that sacred surrender, He begins the healing.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to acknowledge the grief in my heart. Comfort me in the places that feel broken, and remind me I’m not alone in this sorrow.