It is what it is, April 16, 2025 – Jen Brien

by Jennifer Brien, contributing writer, commentary

THERE IS NO OTHER NEWS

So, this week is HOLY WEEK, and I’ve wondered to myself if anyone out there… feels the weight of it all like I do. A LOT of really intense, insane and horrible things happened to Jesus during that WEEK, and I for one get extremely contemplative about it all now, especially since God rescued me from this world and from myself.

What Jesus went through for us out of love is mind blowing. Like, the emoji head exploding mind blowing because we are (as a species) a heck of a hot mess and woefully undeserving. I cry a lot during this time because I have come to know and experience the goodness of GOD and it’s the only thing (for me) that filled the void in my life.

I, like many of you, have had some very, VERY tough times in life, and there were moments I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. I believed it was impossible for me to overcome the trauma I experienced in the ARMY, the alcoholism, the depression and complete hopelessness. The pain I was imprisoned by and the shame I carried for being unable to handle it all was so heavy a weight that I wanted to die.

I can’t tell you the number of times I prayed God would just come and get me outta here. I didn’t want to be alive, that I knew for sure, but I was too afraid to do anything else other than think about the alternative to living. I suppose I hoped secretly my alcohol abuse would take me out… but GOD had other ideas. He never let me die, but watched me wander about in a vodka haze for nearly 40 years, pulling me out of certain death situations. Car crashes, overdoses, blackout drinking and driving… I am alive because of GOD. No other reason. I should be dead.

One might say “if GOD is real, JEN, why didn’t he just fix you”? Well, folks – because the way it works is “I DO MY PART – AND GOD DOES HIS”. Truth is my cell phone was in a “bad service area” for nearly 40 years. He tried to call, but I was unavailable… so, I wandered and wandered. If only I hadn’t GHOSTED GOD, all those years ago. Long story short, one day in my 1,000,000 detox… I fell to my knees and begged God to help me… the minute I did that with a pure heart, my life changed.

I wasn’t perfect, I made MANY MORE MISTAKES and relapsed a number of times, but God and I began a working relationship, and he KNEW, though I wasn’t healthy YET, I was buying in! He worked with that and that’s how he rolls. Sober for nearly 8 years now, God and I are closer than ever. The Christian concept of “COME AS YOU ARE” means you show up.  JUST SHOW UP and let God start working on you and in you. No matter what condition you’re in. JUST SHOW UP. 

It’s like going to the gym… you have to show up and be persistent and then things start changing but first, you have TO SHOW UP. You become a better version of yourself, little by slow, and just like any relationship you build trust. It’s really that SIMPLE.

In summary this week gang, Jesus suffered immeasurably for crazy, flawed, snarky, imperfect me. HE came and got me out when I was sick and struggling, and turned my life into something I never thought would be possible. I know who I belong to and where I’m going… not because I’m great or anything, but because GOD IS GREAT and loves ME and he loves you.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s no other news that matters this week. NONE. So, this is all you get. Nothing the world can offer will outdo THIS news, this week, that’s for sure. Lastly, I promise you God is real. I am alive because of him. My way almost killed me, but like so many others, Jesus is my rescue story. Don’t believe your doubts, believe the goodness that lies deep within your heart… that’s where GOD resides.

HAPPY EASTER… and remember… tears may fall on FRIDAY… BUT SUNDAY’S COMING…

God Bless gang,

Jen

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Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.

To read more columns and commentary by Jen, go here: https://rinewstoday.com/ron-st-pierre-jen-brien/