We live in a culture where drinking is built into just about everything we do.
Headed to dinner? Happy hour!
Lunch? Let’s call it brunch—bring on the mimosas!
Wedding? Better be an open bar.
Event? Hopefully there’s alcohol!
We get so used to this rhythm that it feels strange to go without. And if you do show up without a drink in hand, people assume one of two things: you must be pregnant… or you’re just not any fun. Why does society make us feel that way?
About a year and a half ago, I decided to stop drinking. Honestly, it felt like the devil had a foothold whenever alcohol was in the mix and frankly, I wanted to live a healthier lifestyle, at a minimum, give it a try! What I didn’t expect was just how different life would look once I made that choice.
First came the questions (so many questions): Why don’t you drink? Did something happen? Are you never going to drink again? Then came the sting—some “friends” stopped inviting me to things. Suddenly, I felt like I wasn't “cool” anymore, like I had nothing left to offer. Ouch.
But here’s what I kept circling back to: the enemy. The enemy wants us to believe intoxication and partying are fulfilling. In reality, they’re just blurry nights, hangovers, and for me lots of hang-xieties. Over the past year and a half, I've traded all that for deeper conversations, more family memories, fewer arguments, a healthier marriage, and a life overflowing with Jesus.
Society—and the enemy—has tricked us into believing:
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Fun requires a drink in your hand.
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It’s more “normal” to drink than not.
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Sobriety is boring while drunkenness is cool.
Those lies were hard to shake at first. But as I grew healthier, happier, and more alive in Christ, they became easier to spot for what they really are: lies.
Now hear me out—I’m not saying everyone has to quit drinking or should quit drinking. But I am inviting you to challenge yourself:
Can you go to that party without ordering a drink?
Can you enjoy brunch without a Bloody Mary?
At the end of the day, we’re called to be dependent on Christ—and Christ alone. If you “need” alcohol to get through a social event, maybe it’s worth asking what (or who) you’re truly depending on.