There was a time in my life when addiction had taken me to a place I never imagined I would be.
I became pregnant during my active addiction, and ultimately, I lost custody of my son. He was placed in foster care, and I found myself facing consequences that would change my life forever.
I was terrified. I was broken. I had reached a point where I didn't know how I was going to put my life back together.
But Jesus met me there.
I remember being in the hospital, scared and desperate, crying out to God for help. And in that moment, I heard Him speak to my spirit:
“Do not fear, I am with you.”
Those words changed my life. Right then and there, I made a decision. I was going to get clean. I was going to fight for my son. And I was going to do whatever it took to become the mother he deserved.
When I made that decision, it was as though the floodgates of God's grace opened over my life. His mercy met me in my desperation, and His strength empowered me to take the first steps toward a completely different future.
I walked out of that hospital, and by the grace of God, I have been clean ever since.
But that was only the beginning. I still had to face the consequences of my choices. I had to participate in outpatient treatment, fulfill the requirements of my family reunification plan, rebuild trust, develop stability, and learn how to live differently.
It was challenging. There were no shortcuts. There were moments that required perseverance, humility, accountability, and faith. But through it all, Jesus was with me.
As I continued my recovery, I became involved in recovery groups, including Celebrate Recovery, and started attending church. There, God surrounded me with an incredible community of friends and sisters in Christ who loved me, encouraged me, prayed with me, held me accountable, and walked alongside me through some of the most difficult seasons of my life.
That community became an essential part of my healing and restoration.
I learned firsthand that recovery is not meant to happen in isolation. Having people around you who genuinely care, who speak truth in love, who encourage you when you're struggling, and who celebrate your growth can make an extraordinary difference.
Recovery Was Only Part of the Journey
As I continued rebuilding my life, I discovered something that would profoundly shape the mission God was placing on my heart.
Getting clean was essential. Staying clean was essential. But when it came to bringing my son home, sobriety alone wasn't enough.
The place where I had been living wasn't suitable for safely bringing my baby home. Finding stable, appropriate housing became an essential part of my reunification journey. And that became one of my greatest challenges.
At the time, I wasn't employed. I was relying on government assistance while doing everything I could to rebuild my life. I was participating in recovery, meeting my responsibilities, and working toward reunification, but I didn't have the financial resources to secure the housing my son and I needed.
I was referred to housing resources, and I'm incredibly grateful those resources eventually helped me. But the process took time. So much time.
Even after DCFS determined that I had made the progress necessary for reunification, I still couldn't bring my son home because I hadn't secured suitable housing.
That meant more waiting. More uncertainty. More time separated from my child. The housing delays extended his time in foster care considerably, nearly doubling the time we spent apart.
And all the while, I knew there were deadlines in my reunification case. I was terrified that something as fundamental as not having a safe place to bring my son could stand between us, even after everything I had done to change my life.
By God's grace, suitable housing finally became available near the end of that process, and I was able to move forward with bringing my son home.
I'll never forget that experience, because it taught me something I will carry for the rest of my life:
A woman can be doing everything she can to rebuild her life and still face barriers she cannot overcome through determination alone.
Recovery matters. Accountability matters. But so do safe housing, financial stability, transportation, access to resources, and having people who will help you navigate difficult circumstances.
When those pieces are missing, the journey becomes so much harder.
And I think about the women who are still there. The mothers who are getting sober, showing up, doing the work, and fighting for their children, but who don't have stable housing or a healthy support system. The women who are trying to rebuild their lives while facing financial hardship, uncertainty, and overwhelming responsibilities. The women who need someone to see more than their past and help them take the next step.
I know what it's like to be one of those women.
The Moment That Stayed With Me
By God's grace, after walking through the reunification process, I was approved to regain custody of my son.
I'll never forget standing before the judge at the conclusion of my case.
She congratulated me on everything I had accomplished. But what she said next stayed with me.
She told me that she'd been doing this work for a long time, that she'd seen many cases like mine, and that not many people in those circumstances accomplished what I had.
At first, I felt grateful and humbled by her words. But underneath that gratitude, my heart broke.
Because I couldn't stop thinking about the mothers who were still struggling. The women who desperately loved their children but were battling addiction, instability, fear, shame, and overwhelming circumstances.
I knew how easily my story could have ended differently. And I knew that God hadn't brought me through everything I'd experienced simply so I could have a better life.
He restored my life so that I could turn around and reach back for others.
Why I Founded Restored & Rising
Restored & Rising Recovery Homes was born out of that calling.
I have a deep passion for women navigating substance use recovery, especially mothers working toward stability and family reunification.
I know what it's like to have to rebuild everything at once: your sobriety, your stability, your relationships, your confidence, your future, and your family.
And I know firsthand the importance of a safe, structured sober living environment, meaningful accountability, practical support, and a healthy community of people who will walk through life's challenges with you.
My vision is to help bridge the gap between recovery and stability by creating structured, supportive sober living housing where women can build healthier routines, find community, and connect with practical resources as they work toward greater independence.
My heart is especially drawn to pregnant women, mothers, and women navigating family reunification because I've walked that road myself. As we grow, I hope to develop housing options that can accommodate mothers with their children, recognizing how important family stability can be to the restoration process.
I know that housing alone cannot resolve every challenge. But I also know firsthand how much having a safe, stable place to live can change what's possible.
I don't want another mother to have to face that journey feeling as alone, afraid, or overwhelmed as I once did.
But above all, I want the love of Jesus Christ to be reflected in everything we do.
I want to be His hands and feet. To love people where they are. To extend compassion and grace. To offer encouragement and practical support. And, when welcomed, to share the hope I've found in Him.
Because I believe the same God who met me at my rock bottom is still restoring lives today.
A Vision Beyond One Home
Restored & Rising Recovery Homes is the beginning of a much greater vision that I believe the Lord has placed on my heart.
My hope is to eventually establish multiple sober living homes and, in the future, develop a separate Restored & Rising recovery treatment center offering professionally delivered, evidence-based substance use services, including detoxification and residential treatment.
I also envision longer-term, affordable transitional housing that helps women continue building stability, independence, and a sustainable future.
Ultimately, my dream is to develop a connected continuum of services and housing, with appropriate professional teams and partnerships, so women have support through the different stages of their journeys.
From rock bottom to recovery. From recovery to restoration. From restoration to independence and purpose.
I know this vision will take time, resources, partnerships, and God's provision. The first step is building Restored & Rising Recovery Homes and establishing a strong foundation for the future.
But I believe the Lord didn't bring me through everything I've experienced simply to restore my own life.
He brought me through it so I could reach back and help others rise.
My Firm Foundation
I didn't make it through because I had everything figured out. I made it through because Jesus was faithful.
My testimony is not about how strong I am. It's about His mercy. His grace. His forgiveness. His love. And His faithfulness.
I believe our testimonies are meant to be shared. If telling the truth about where I've been and what Jesus has done in my life helps another woman find hope, then every difficult chapter has an opportunity to serve a greater purpose.
Jesus Christ is my firm foundation. Everything we hope to build through Restored & Rising stands upon Him.
Rooted in Christ. Restored through Hope. Rising with Purpose.
Lauren Cox, RN
Founder, Restored & Rising Recovery Homes
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