We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sherry Hoppen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sherry, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My story begins with a descent into a secret life of addiction to alcohol. I tried for years to overcome the shame of being a Christian woman entangled in the nightmarish secrecy of addiction. When I finally found freedom from the bondage of alcoholism in November of 2013 by surrendering my life to God and telling him, “I will do whatever you want me to.” It wasn’t long before it was made very clear that He had no intention of keeping my addiction a secret that I could bury in my past. He called me to speak and write about my journey and share how I overcame the bondage of this secret sin and found freedom in this life that no longer relied on alcohol to get through the day. That as a Christian wife, mother, and recovering alcoholic, I had a story to share and inspire others to live independently of a substance. I am the founder of She Surrenders, a ministry to help women confront and surrender the addictions they shamefully hold close. I aspire to help women find freedom from alcohol and other addictive substances and behaviors through this ministry. I am the author of Sober Cycle-Pedaling Through Recovery One Day at a Time. It is my story of trying everything in my power to escape addiction, including riding a bike from Michigan to Texas. There are much easier ways, and it didn’t work anyway! Sober Cycle chronicles my addiction to alcohol as a woman of faith and all the crazy things I tried to escape the grip of alcohol before I discovered the power of surrender. I tell my story with honesty and humor and love sharing it to inspire others to find out what happens when you put down the bottle (or any stronghold) and pick up a whole new life.

Sherry, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started speaking about my journey into addiction and the new life I was living free from alcohol, and this created connections with other women, especially women of faith that wanted a safe place to talk to someone that knew how they were feeling. There is so much guilt and shame that accompanies addiction, and as Christians, shouldn’t we have known better? So we sit in the pew of shame and silently pass judgment on ourselves over and over for the mess we are in. It’s a horrible way to live and I started She Surrenders to encourage women that they are not alone and that a whole new life awaits them when we surrender. your secret sin and pick up the promises God has for you. I started blogging, social media, answering tons of emails, and eventually started a private group for meetings we call Joyful Surrender.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I was struggling with my alcoholism and trying to get sober, I could not find a plan, a meeting-a program, or anything that fit to help me. I also kept trying everything that was only my idea and my own strength. I was asked to do a fundraising bike ride from Michigan to Texas. I did not own a bike, but I said yes, and 51 days later, I left on this ride nursing a horrible hangover. I completed the ride, and while I did learn about myself and what I was capable of, it did not keep me sober, and I went back to drinking the same day I came home. I went on to do this event for the next five years, but it was only the last two that I did as a successfully sober woman.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

This lesson lives in the background of the answer to the question about my journey. Every time I did one of those rides, I was trying to outrun (or out-ride) my addiction instead of facing it. I wanted it just to go away as if these grueling tests of what I was made of would be the key to ending my alcoholism by proving to myself how strong I was. I seemed to be able to overcome every challenge in life but alcohol, and I was at a loss over what to do next. I was living the definition of insanity, doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. The result was always the same. Return beat up and exhausted and drink.     

Contact Info:

• Website: shesurrenders.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/shesurrenders_sherry
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/shesurrendersdaily
• Youtube: [email protected]
• Yelp: [email protected]

Image Credits
Sincerely Ashley