After Rock Bottom — God Began to Lead Him | Lance Goetz (Part 6)

Описание: In this pivotal chapter of his story, Lance shares why this episode is one of the hardest to tell—and why he believes it must be told. If his suffering can help even one person find hope, then the pain has meaning.
After hitting rock bottom, Lance moved in with high school friends who became a stabilizing influence in his life. Though he was still dependent on OxyContin, he began the long and painful process of reducing his dosage, enduring intense opioid withdrawal while trying to rebuild some sense of normalcy.

A turning point came in an unexpected way. While helping his sister—an elementary school teacher—Lance dressed up as a clown for her students. When the children tackled him in play, despite his injuries, something profound happened: for the first time in years, his pain faded into the background. In giving himself to others, he discovered that life is not found in self-protection, but in self-gift.

Seeking deeper healing, Lance met with the president of a local Catholic university, a religious sister who spoke directly to the resentment he was carrying. She told him that he could not truly grow closer to God while his heart remained filled with anger, blame, and a sense of victimhood. Even sincere attempts at faith cannot bear fruit if forgiveness is absent.

Lance began to understand that resentment keeps suffering locked in place. Without forgiveness, there is no movement forward. Reflecting on the suffering of Jesus, he saw a new way to understand his own pain—not as meaningless punishment, but as something that could be offered for others. In Christ, suffering has purpose.

This episode concludes with Lance sharing how these lessons now shape his life as a public school teacher. By choosing to live for others, forgive deeply, and allow God to lead him forward, Lance discovered the path out of despair—and into the life God had been quietly preparing all along.

If you are struggling, carrying resentment, or feel trapped by pain, this episode is for you. There is always hope.