The 'Good Christian' with a Secret: Sherry Hoppen on How She Hid Her Alcoholism, and What Finally Brought Freedom

“I told my whole family, ‘I'm quitting.’ But in my head this voice was screaming, ‘I don't know what to do. I can't quit.’”

For years, Sherry Hoppen lived between those two realities.

To the people around her, she was trying. She was making promises. She was attending church, raising a family, and doing everything a good Christian woman was supposed to do. But behind the scenes, alcohol had become her refuge, her coping mechanism, and eventually her prison. Even after public commitments to quit, she found herself returning to the bottle and becoming increasingly skilled at hiding the truth from the people she loved most.

In this episode, Sherry shares the painful road that led her from family trauma and grief into alcoholism, the deception that defined her drinking years, and the repeated attempts to fix herself through determination, discipline, and even cross-country bicycle rides. Yet none of those things could accomplish what only complete surrender eventually would.

Today, Sherry is the founder of Sela House Recovery and the author of Sober Cycle. Her story is a powerful reminder that recovery is not ultimately about trying harder, hiding better, or managing appearances. It's about bringing the parts of ourselves we've kept from God into the light and discovering the freedom that comes from a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.

Get Sherry's book: Sober Cycle
More info on Selah House Recovery: selahhouserecovery.org
Follow Sherry on Instagram
Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.org
Follow me: @jonseidl
Order my new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic

We explore:

— The family wounds and grief that shaped Sherry's early life
— How alcohol gradually became a solution to pain, stress, and disappointment
— The moment she realized drinking seemed to make life easier
— Secret drinking, deception, and living a double life
— Why public promises to quit did not solve the problem
— The temptation to become better at hiding addiction rather than confronting it
— The bike rides that temporarily changed her behavior but not her heart
— The devastation alcohol caused in her marriage and family
— Alcohol poisoning and reaching the end of herself
— The ultimatum that forced her to face reality
— The difference between religion and a relationship with Jesus
— What true surrender actually looks like
— Rebuilding trust after years of broken promises
— Why Gospel-centered recovery starts with Jesus, not behavior modification
— The ministry and mission of Sela House Recovery

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