This young lady’s honest, open, transparent account of her tough life from early teens, all the way through high school and junior college is an absolute must-read for anyone who thinks there is no hope for any family member, friend of even themselves who may be stuck in the vicious cycle of addiction. With the availability of so many formerly illegal addictive substances, the number of adults, but especially our youth, who are addicted to vaping cannabis is staggering.
Then there is a crisis of identity amongst so many people these days, mostly young women, who are deceived by the shiny objects on social media or the “influencer” cult, etc. Caitlin’s incredible journey led her to the REAL TRUTH (in Christ), through a very tough, difficult road. It was only after her transformation at the life-changing Mercy Ministries, founded in 1983 by Nancy Alcorn, that Caitlin not just turned around but began growing into who she was all along – a daughter of the Living Christ. It was Jesus Who gave her the identity she possesses now, which is blessing her husband, daughters, and community around her in Knoxville, TN. (Mercy Multiplied, in Nashville, TN, was the home where Caitlin found her purpose in life).
(On a personal note, I was blessed to be able to meet a delegation in 2011 from St. Louis Mercy Multiplied at the Illinois State Capitol. Former Illinois State Senator Kyle McCarter and his wife Victoria were great supporters of Mercy St. Louis and twice brought up dozens of young ladies whose lives were transformed due to Nancy Alcorn’s ministry. Kyle later became the US Ambassador to Kenya in the first Trump Administration. His wife and the girls participated in my Annual National Day of Prayer event at the Illinois State Capitol Lincoln Steps that year. What an incredible ministry/mission! God’s Hand continues to guide, now thousands of young women, to better lives because of Mercy Multiplied!)
What Overcomer Overcome shows is that it is not an easy walk; even Jesus rescues you out of the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of His Marvelous Light. As Caitlin mentions, sometimes you will feel like a “fish on pavement”. This is a tough proposition, as the Christian fails a lot, but we have a loving God Who draws us in if we draw near to Him. One of the attractions of this book is a chapter in Scripture which is super meaningful to our author friend – John Chapter 15. It is the chapter on Abiding, remaining, connecting, living in the zone, feeding off the vine… tied into the “Source”
In the great new movie “A Great Awakening”, the George Whitefield character asked America’s Founding Father Ben Franklin, an avowed unbeliever, “What’s the Source, Ben”? Franklin, of course, did not answer, but in her book, Caitlin Hawk tells us not just WHO the Source is, but how and from what He rescued her.
Read this book with the frame of mind of “how can this either help me, or someone I know”….and it will. After glancing through it, I camped on it to understand the author's heartbeat and what she was trying to say. What she said will make you cry, cringe, hurt, smile, pray, put the book down, pick it up, feel empathy, feel love, feel sadness, feel hopeful, rejoice, and again, I say – rejoice.
If you’re looking for immediate answers in a book, any book, except the Bible, you won’t find it. If you want to become part of the process that can lead someone, including oneself, to Deliverance, get a copy of Overcomer Overcome by Caitlin Hawk and you will be on the road to freedom, which can only be found in Jesus.
