100 Pedals

Real solutions for the parents of addicted children

## Parents, Praise Your Way to Success!

July 28, 2025 by Dave Cooke 2 Comments

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.” (Psalm 118:24, NAB)

What’s bugging you today? I’ll bet it’s something that happened in the past. Or maybe the future isn’t turning out the way you planned. But the future isn’t here yet, and the past is gone. All you have is the present moment. Today. Why not rejoice and be grateful for it? After all, the Lord made it.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t work toward a better future. You can. And I’ll tell you how to do that later in this blog post. But first, appreciate this day and how far you’ve come on your healing journey as the Christian parent of an addicted child.

What probably bugs you most about addiction is the lack of control. It doesn’t matter how much you want to control everything. You can’t. So let go. You’ll only succeed at what you can control.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:31-34, NKJV)

This scripture tells you exactly what you control. You control how often you seek the righteousness of God every day. You control how often you thank God for the blessings he gives you every day.

After you’ve rejoiced over this day, sought the righteousness of God, and thanked him for his daily blessings, begin to praise him. Praise is a Christian’s secret weapon.

“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.’ Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” (2 Chronicles 20:21-22, NKJV)

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” (Acts 16:25-26, NKJV)

What you can’t control is every aspect of your child’s addiction. But what you can control is mighty powerful. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice! Then praise your way into tomorrow. When you do, you’ll make it an even better day than today.

Think about it. Now anything is possible. That’s Godly success. Don’t you love it?!

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Are you the parent of a child addicted to drugs or alcohol? The emotional rollercoaster of addiction is not God’s best for you or your family. Dave Cooke is an Addiction Coach and an internationally recognized speaker. Let him show you how to move your family back on track in a healthier direction by applying Christian principles. To c ontact Dave for private coaching, go to http://www.100pedals.com/coaching/ or email dave@100Pedals.com. You’ll be amazed what a difference an hour with Dave can make in your life!

Are you on Dave’s email list? If you’d like to receive his monthly newsletter for the parents of addicted children and weekly blog post notifications, email dave@100pedals.com

Filed Under: Addiction, Christian living, featured, Parenting, Parenting & Addiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: addiction and parenting, addiction and recovery, addictions coaching, drug abuse and parenting, parent coaching, parenting tips, praise, praising God, self care

## What’s the Difference Between a Support Group and a Coach?

June 23, 2025 by Dave Cooke 4 Comments

A support group can be very helpful in the beginning. You’ve just discovered your beloved child is addicted to drugs or alcohol. It’s quite a shock. In a support group, you’ll find other parents experiencing the same overwhelming emotions. You’re not alone, and it’s an immense relief.

Support groups are the place where you’ll find good information and resources. Those first few months are crucial for learning everything you can about addiction. You’ll also be exposed to lots of parental advice. Basically, what has and hasn’t worked for each member.

And that’s where you need to be careful. Not all advice will be appropriate for your situation.

For example, some in support groups insist the only way to force addicted children into recovery is to kick them out of the house. That’s not true. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions.

Advice like that can be heartbreaking for parents new to the addiction jungle. At this point, you’re just trying to find solid ground and regain your footing. All the parenting rules have changed overnight. It’s a confusing and highly emotional time for most parents.

A good coach recognizes this. And that’s the difference between a support group and a coach. Like I said, no two addiction situations are the same. Yes, it’s important to set firm boundaries and house rules. Yes, it’s important for your addicted child to be aware of these boundaries and the consequences of breaking your rules.

But that doesn’t mean your only option is to kick your child out. Far from it. Good coaches teach parents to think rationally in chaotic situations. We encourage them to develop effective communication skills and avoid emotional pitfalls.

It’s never good to overwhelm a traumatized parent. The best approach is to teach parents specific skills that inspire confidence and healing. They need proven strategies to help them prepare for disaster before it strikes again. A good coach guides parents through the turbulence of addiction, as they define their goals.

No matter where you are on your path, there’s hope. Lots of it! Just make sure the advice you follow is appropriate for you, your family, and your particular addiction situation.

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Is your child addicted to drugs or alcohol? Are you trapped on the emotional rollercoaster of addiction? Dave Cooke can help. He’s an Addiction Coach and an internationally recognized speaker. Let him show you how to create an action plan that will move you, your family, and your addicted child back on track in a healthier direction. To c ontact Dave for private coaching, go to http://www.100pedals.com/coaching/ or email dave@100Pedals.com.

Are you on Dave’s email list? If you’d like to receive his monthly newsletter for the parents of addicted children and weekly blog post notifications, email dave@100pedals.com

Filed Under: Addiction, featured, Learning From Experience, Lessons In Addiction, Parenting, Parenting & Addiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: addictions coach, addictions coaching, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, parent support, parenting and addiction, support groups for addictions, support groups for parents