He could feel that Presence being with him as a 4-5-year-old at home and at church. He experienced Him miraculously healing his mom's shattered arm.
Likewise, he saw Him stepping in to bring his almost dead brother back to life.
Still, the pain that entered his life was too big to contain and nothing, neither drugs nor drink, could make it go away.
It was there, overwhelming him, bursting out in rage and rebellion.
But God's grace and love showed up, and Bill let himself be led back to God's Presence and there in the pierced hands of Jesus, he found that hope, joy, and peace that could not be found in the numbing power of addictions.
Bill, USA