There was a time in my life when everything I had built came crashing down.
The image I tried to hold together.
The life.
The success.
The control.
All of it crumbled under the weight of addiction, shame, and brokenness.
I was left standing in ruins, wondering if anything beautiful could ever rise from what was left.
That’s where this journey began.
More Than a Book
I’m currently writing a book called Rising from the Ruins: A Story of Addiction, Redemption, and Unshakable Hope.
But this isn’t just a memoir.
It’s a message.
A mirror.
An invitation.
It’s for anyone who has ever looked at the wreckage of their life and asked:
“Is it too late for me?”
The answer is no.
It’s not too late.
The RUINS Framework
Before anything can be rebuilt, the ruins have to be recognized.
That’s why the foundation of this book is the RUINS Framework, a process God showed me through as I found healing, freedom, and purpose:
- Recognize the Ruins
- Understand the Impact
- Identify the Lies
- Navigate the Healing
- Stand in Redemption
We don’t skip the rubble.
We walk through it.
Because that’s where God does His deepest work.
Why I Had to Write This
I didn’t want to write a book that only talks about rising.
I wanted to write about what happens before the rise.
The moment everything falls apart.
The choices we make in the dark.
The surrender that happens before the breakthrough.
True transformation doesn’t happen after the dust settles.
It happens when we decide to stand up in the middle of the mess.
That’s what this story is about.
What This Book Is Becoming
This book isn’t just about the past. It’s the beginning of a bigger vision.
- A keynote message that challenges people to own their scars instead of hiding them
- Small group resources and devotionals built around the RUINS Framework
- A stage-to-page mission where story, speaking, and conversation work together
- A legacy for my family and for anyone who feels stuck, disqualified, or forgotten
I believe this message will reach people in their darkest places.
The ones who feel buried.
The ones who think they’ve gone too far.
The ones who don’t know how to start again.
You’re not too far gone.
If You’re Standing in the Ruins
You’re not alone.
You’re not forgotten.
And you’re not finished.
God isn’t intimidated by your brokenness.
He sees a blueprint in the rubble.
This book is for you.
We’re not rising in spite of the ruins.
We’re rising because of them.
The ruins don’t disqualify you.
They prove you survived what tried to bury you.
Let’s rebuild together.
Chris Benton
Author of Rising from the Ruins
Latest posts by Chris & Sandy Benton (see all)
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