Story 1
When I was younger, I believed in God, I went to church, and prayed at night. My faith never really was questioned in my head. Then I went through a really rough patch in my life. I started to question everything. I wondered why God wasn't there for me, why he didn't do something to help me when I was drowning. Then I kept seeing things talking about Jesus and signs that he was there. One main reason I really started to go to Jesus was my best friend Kinslie, I don't think I would be on this path without her. I started praying and truly putting my faith in him and that's when I saw a difference. I started enjoying church and the little things in life. I started feeling like myself again and not like this shell of a person that had been taken by the devil. I'm continuing to grow my faith everyday, but now I come to church, not because I'm forced to, but because every time I come, I'm reminded of what God has done for me.
Nico Ciccone
Before finding my faith in Christ I was a lost soul. I was an active user of drugs and alcohol, spiraling out of control. My mental health and physical health was slowly but surely declining.Becoming a husband and a new father, I was constantly making the wrong choices, even though I wanted to do the right things for my family. I had no faith in anything good. I was always finding ways and finding myself believing in negative outcomes rather than positive ones. It had become so bad that thinking just ending everything would be a better solution. It was then I had chosen to seek medical help.
I had always been curious of our lord and savior but I had been unable to see and believe that he was always with me. It was up to me to focus on the subtle signs he had been sending me and believe. In a short amount of time he had come to me, and I was able to begin seeing positive outcomes, and making positive decisions as his power was guiding me to be better. A lifetime friend had noticed I was struggling and he reached out to me about attending church and giving myself to our lord and savior. That was the sign I needed and noticed. It was then I chose to give myself to him and study his scripture and become one with church and faith.
Since giving myself in his name, my life has become so much better. My thoughts and choices have been so positive and impactful. I feel like an absolute new person. I was so filled with hate and anger previously, and by becoming an active follower with his guidance I was able to be the man I wanted to be for myself and my family. As this is a life long choice, I truly now believe that by following his word and reading his scriptures and having faith, I will be able to always do right by him. When my time comes I know he will accept me.
Story 3
As a child, God was always present in my life. Whether that was going to church with my grandma or my mom playing worship music at home. However, I never really had the chance to form a personal relationship with God in the way that saves.
At just the age of 7, I was molested by a female babysitter. She made me hyper aware of sex at such a young age. By the age of 12, my parents were going through a divorce and nothing at home was ever the same. At just the age of 13, I was desperate to find comfort in someone, anyone. I found that comfort in a boyfriend. And at the age of 13 and for the following 4 years after that, I was performing things that only adults should be performing. After coming out of that relationship, I had a huge fear of abandonment and found myself desperate to be chosen and loved. Then, I found myself in an extremely abusive relationship for all of my late teens and early twenties and what kept me from standing up and leaving (besides the obvious psychology behind abuse cycles) was the idea that he “chose” me. Like the young girl inside me who was not taken care of, recognized that in his “good” moments, I was being chosen. This relationship came with words like, “you’re ugly,” “you’re fat,” & “no one will ever love you.” I came out of that relationship in 2018 and for the following 5 years after that, I suffered what would be my hardest and darkest years. I fell into the worse depression of my life, I became suicidal, I inflicted self harm, I had anxiety with panic disorder, suffering from multiple panic attacks a day, I even had panic attacks in the middle of my sleep. I was suffering from PTSD, where I found myself waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares in a complete frantic, gasping for air. I felt dirty, broken, and unworthy of love. Before I was put on psych meds to help these illnesses, I sought worldly things as a way of self medication, and that included alcohol, weed, and relations with toxic men. Then I found myself on over 10 psychiatric medications and was enrolled into an intensive outpatient program. I found myself continuously asking God to take me, just so that I couldn’t feel anymore.
The night that God showed himself to me, I was at my wits end. My spirit and my soul were so tired, weary, heavy, and sad. I truly thought that my life had run its course and that night, I made the decision to want to take my own life. But God had other plans… He showed himself to me. He spoke life into me that night. He mentioned every single insecurity and gave me examples that fought against every single one of them. He told me I was already chosen, He told me I was already loved, He told me that I am worthy. We had an extensive conversation about the people He meticulously put into my life. I have people that sat with me in an inpatient behavioral health facility, overnight sleeping on a hospital bed with me. I have people who paused their daily lives just to take round the clock shifts at my apartment so that I wouldn’t be alone and I wouldn’t be able to hurt myself. I have my family and their continuous prayers. It wasn’t until that night, that I truly realized God loves me and has been with me my whole life. Even when I did not know Him, He was working on a path to bring me to Him. Even when I rebelled from Him, He still looked at me with such loving eyes and open arms for my return home. And that very night, I surrendered my life and all of its weight to Christ and asked Him to be my Lord and Savior.
Since giving my life to Christ, I have felt this field of protection over me. I feel a certain peace that I’ve never felt in my entire life. It’s a peace that doesn’t depend on external circumstances. Instead, it’s like an unwavering sense of calm that remains in me, no matter what life throws my way. It’s a calmness that’s very foreign to me. All my life, I’ve been in fight mode. But for the first time ever, I genuinely feel like weight has been lifted from me. He brought me back and still allows me to experience the peace that comes from being in His presence. It gives me peace and assurance for my future. I was fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of Christ. And I finally see and feel all the love that I have ever wanted and all the peace I never had. I used to say that I was ready for death because I hated to live so much. And now, I still say I’m ready for death but that’s because I feel contentment, I have already experienced the best love that there is. And that’s the love of our Lord and Savior.
Story 3
I was always raised in church. We would go several times a week but I felt it was always forced. I really don't know what happened, but around 9 years old until about 8th grade, I became very depressed with suicidal thoughts. In 8th grade I became rebellious, I did really bad in school and really didn't listen to or respect my family. I isolated myself. In 10th grade I met a girl who attended Faith church. I started visiting with her; more so to spend time with her than to really look for God. After a couple of years things really started to go south with her. We eventually broke up. I took it really hard and down spiraled. I started to drink and smoke to numb myself. I realized I didn't want that and in July 2025 I started to really look for God on my own, for myself. I started to feel a nudge from God to get baptized but I ignored it. Whenever the pastor or someone mentioned being baptized my family would tell me to do it and not to wait. I ignored them too. One day I decided to just take the leap and go for it. Now I hope that I can keep growing more with God because this time it's for me.
Story 5
Growing up with four siblings and just a mom wasn't easy. Too much went on all at once. I learned at a young age how cruel the world can be. How people you loved and trusted could hurt you when they were supposed to love you. Abuse went on until I was 9. I avoided being alone with that person ever again. Afterwards, I always felt a power within me. I could see right through people and feel energy. Many times I had a voice in my head in situations where I became a protector for my siblings. As I got older I lost that feeling, My self-esteem became low and I lost my self worth. I kept quiet for many years about my abuse. I finally told mom about it when I was 12 at that point I just wanted to move on. That person was living a life of shame and living in their own misery. I went to counseling but I didn't open up. I got a little older and started making bad decisions like hanging around the wrong people. Lying, stealing, drinking and smoking. In 2008 I met the father of my son, started to skip school and eventually dropped out of high school. Over the years I had endured so much physical, mental and emotional abuse. I DIDN'T LEAVE and I hid it from everyone. I started to isolate myself away from friends and family. I was embarrassed and ashamed because I loved this man. I kept thinking it would get better... I doubted myself and thought I could change him. 2011 I had my son, The abuse still went on and I just felt more trapped. I started battling my mental health. In 2015 I fell into a deep depression. I felt hopeless, broken and empty. That depression ate me and it turned into anxiety. I tried to be strong. I got some help, went to counseling and started medication to cope. It worked but not fully. I still felt empty and sick. I began to talk to my mom about the things I had been going through for all these years. I still loved him.
From a young age I knew about Christ because of my mother. I didn't know him through my eyes and my understanding. I knew I needed something more. Crying to my mom with the way I was feeling she turned to me and said pray, give it to god and surrender to him. Music on reading scripture from the bible crying out to God and surrendered my life to him accepting him into my life as my lord and savior. I began watching steven furtick and the olsteens praising and praying with the bible on my side. It took time but I started feeling a sense of peace like a weight had been lifted and I could breathe. My thoughts became clearer. I began to speak God's words over my life. Casting away to him what wasn't for me, making all battles his. Praying for the ones who have hurt me unintentionally and intensionally. Doing my best to forgive them. Through my faith and love for God I've learned that even in the darkest moments, There is hope and healing for me through Jesus. Things started to become better and them dark days became shorter. Healing began 2017 the physical abuse stopped. I started focusing on the good and focusing on my spiritual growth and relationship with God. I learned that I can't fight or battle someone because of their choices and addictions. All I can do is pray, give it to God and trust that he is working. I learned that love is an action and it is kindness. I can love and be kind from a distance. By the end of 2024 God's given me the strength in to break free from an abusive person who was not only harming me but himself with worldly acts. Finally September 2025 I gave the feeling of guilt to God I had been carrying for so long. It didn't belong to me. Forgiving myself for allowing such abuse go on for so long and for not turning to God sooner. Only after I have given my life to Christ is when things got greater.
Today I am a child of the father. I've found my purpose. Part of that purpose is to be a source of hope and support to everyone I meet and know. Who may need help navigating situations I've found myself in at times. Who could need advice and guidance or just an ear to listen. I know God is directing my steps. He is with me through every storm. I walk with him proudly knowing that he is for me. Trusting that he will always make a way. God over and over again has touched my life in ways I cannot even begin to explain and I am so thankful. This month had me all over emotional. I was so weary and feeling defeated trying to get help out of where I and my son live. I felt like I was stuck. I went to pastor Matt for prayer the first Sunday of October. I continued that prayer, full of Thanksgiving and hope because while It may not be perfect we still had a roof over our heads. God again did what only he can do when your steps align with his. That Monday I received a letter from the courts. My eviction was sealed, Tuesday I was approved for assistance with moving and by Wednesday I had a really good lead on an apartment in the area I needed in order to keep my son in his same school. God's purpose will always prevail. I am beyond blessed. Things are not always going to come easy but my faith, hope and trust in God has helped me become more resilient. I have a clear mind and that emptiness is fulfilled with the love of Christ.
Cody Buteau
I was raised in church from a young age as soon as I could remember. Going to Sunday school learning about Jesus, all his followers and all the amazing things he has done. I’ve always felt very close to Jesus even as a young boy. To get me through a tough night as a child I would imagine Jesus putting a protective shield over my body and staying there by my side all night so nothing could hurt me while I slept. I honestly did that until I was like sixteen. And I felt so safe, so protected. As I grew a little older my mind body and soul strayed from the path. Choosing any outlet I could for a similar warm feeling of safety unfortunately that turned into a deep use of drugs and pretty heavy alcoholism but instead of safety I found numbness and felt lost for a very long time. The craziest thing though, Even in these times of active addiction and after years of living in sin I still felt Jesus with me. Not judging me, not disappointed in me. I still felt that same love and acceptance and safety I felt since I was a child. I tried for years to stop on my own with many failed attempts. I told myself maybe I can control this on my own, slow down on my own but I was completely wrong. Feeling lost all over again but guess who was always there? knocking at the door asking if I needed a hand. Offering me unconditional love and guidance. Jesus never gave up on me and the power I would feel when I called his name for help was so powerful and loving.
At this point in my life I was calling out to Jesus begging for help and guidance. I would go back to church from time to time and the feelings I would experience were indescribable. So much power! almost like a hand on my shoulder telling me everything was going to be ok. I decided to give all my problems to Jesus and essentially let him take the wheel. I felt so much weight lifted from myself something I didn’t feel when I tried in the past, it was a beautiful feeling. I continued to pray and my prayers would be answered. I prayed for strength and sobriety and I received it. September 18th 2025 I celebrated 4 years of sobriety and I owe almost all of that to him.
Since living with Christ my life has honestly felt magical. I experienced a few tough relationships and at the time it seemed hard. But I knew deep down that I needed to learn from these experiences and they were teaching moments to improve my character, and build myself for something much greater then I could ever imagine. A short time after I left a bad relationship I was laying in my bed trying to sleep. I prayed harder than I feel I ever have. Asking “God why can’t I find true love? Why can’t I experience unconditional love with a partner in my life?”. I prayed some more asking God to please send me this person, I felt I was ready to love this person with all my heart. The very next day was the first time I spoke with the love of my life Ashley! The day after that we met for the first time. From the moment I met her I knew I have never felt this way! I told her that very same night, “you know, I’m going to marry you, mark these words because I know this! and the day we get married we can look back and I’ll say I told you so hahaha!” God also blessed me with her 2 amazing children. One Girl Melody Rose and one boy Liam Sage. The most caring most loving and most amazing children I could ask for. Then God blessed me with our son Lyric Thyme Buteau. These are blessing and feelings I could never put into words but that’s Gods work right in front of me the Glory and the power of Jesus. Ashley and I were united in marriage before God in Tennessee on July 14th 2025. These have been the happiest moments of my life and I know with all my heart God sent them all to me. Today I choose to take this leap of faith into the next chapter of my life and become baptized. To truly give me life completely to Jesus to trust him with all my fears and anxiety. To have a fresh start from my life I lived before accepting Jesus. I’m so excited for this journey, so excited to devote my life to not only my family, but to Jesus. Amen
Story 5
Growing up I believed in God but I knew very little about Him. When I was about 13 years old there was an incident with an old friend in which shortly after I decided to give my heart to God, I only really started going to church regularly in December 2023. For about 2 years now, getting baptized was always in the back of my mind but I never took that leap. Seeing people at my church getting baptized and the joy, gratitude and gratefulness of all them after being baptized, compelled and influenced me to finally take that next step in my walk with God. I hope that getting baptize, my relationship with God will grow stronger but also strengthen the relationships between me and my loved ones.
Story 8
I have some of the saddest stories growing up. I was mentally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused. I felt alone, scared. I had no one to turn to. As an unwanted girl to a twin brother, I didn't feel loved by my mother and never heard her say she loved me. She was an alcoholic and very abusive. It was a “keep quiet” household. No one talked about what went on. None of us 9 kids would dare to. I got in trouble for getting hurt. Woken up in horrible ways in the middle of the night to clean. I was so young and confused. I was a lost soul, felt like I never belonged. I had not one person looking out for me.
At the age of 9 I lived down the street from a church and just one day out of nowhere I showed up there. I heard the mass, it fed me. I started going every Sunday. From the age of 9 to the age of 15 there are only a few things that I can remember from my childhood. I believe during my time at the church God erased a lot of my hurtfilled memories. Not all though. Speaking with the pastor and praying with him. He never knew what I had been going through or went through. Being at the church and getting to know God I felt a comfort I never knew. I eventually grew up and lost my way. felt attacked on and off for many years. I grew up and didn't make the best decisions. I dropped out of school and got a job. Again not making the best decisions I fell in love with my first daughter's father at 17 looking to him for the fulfillment and love that I always wanted. It didn't work out. When my daughter was 3 months old I met another man who I also had children with and eventually married. I was blinded by a lot of bad, not only was I attacked but my children were abused too. I felt like Satan had a hold on my life and he just wasn't letting go. The same as I felt when I was a child. I turned to drugs after hanging out with the wrong people. I looked at it as an escape from my reality. Spending money I didn't have. One day I spent all my money and had no money left for anything. I felt like crap and empty. questioning myself. What was I doing? I knew there was something better for me. That day I turned the tv on and daystar was on. Joyce Meyers had an altar call. I stood up and laid everything down, accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. When I finally accepted God into my life again everything started to change.
I stopped hanging around the wrong people even if they were family. A line had to be drawn. I started sewing into the ministry, lifting everything up in prayer, putting God in every storm I faced and didn't ever battle anything alone again. This is when I began to feel a strength within myself that I didn't have before. Blessings began to pour. I felt peace, joy and love. Things I never experienced before. I still face battles but I continue to put God and his word in the midst of it all. I know that life isn't easy but it's easier with God. My purpose is to show love and compassion the way that God has shown to me. If I have learned anything! That is what the world needs. My life has been a learning experience but finding my faith and accepting God into it has helped me to never fall short of the lord again. Only God has been able to get me out of the darkest days. God has made it easier for me to forgive and move on. Realizing he was the one looking out for me all along and I was never as alone as I thought.
Story 9
Empty, lost, and full of shame. I knew of God, but didn't really know him. When I was young, growing up wasn't a typical childhood. When I was 6, I was molested by a man that was supposed to protect me. Throughout life, I suffered with so much anxiety to the point where I had panic attacks and convulsions. I was very depressed and felt like I didn't have an identity. Always in the background, never spoken up about how I felt. I was in and out of counseling most of my childhood. Sometimes it helped, but I still felt lost. My siblings and I had gone through some rough times. It had affected us all and we tried to cope with it in many different ways. I didn't have friends and I was really big on talking. I kept everything that I was feeling inside. I felt lost and coping didn't help. When I became a teen, I began to self-harm to try and relieve the pain I was feeling inside. I went through so many emotions all at once, and I was so mad at myself for not being able to get over how I was feeling and over what happened to me. I looked at my siblings as if they were stronger than me.
I started experimenting with my body inappropriately, as well as my best friend at the time. I feel so guilty introducing that to her and ashamed. At 13, I was S.A by a family friend. I stopped him and I told my mother. Some time went on and he appeared again asking for my forgiveness. I didn't forgive him even though I said I did. Shortly after another family friend touched me inappropriately. I didn't go to my mom, but I protected myself by making sure I was never alone with him because he had been staying at our house. I started to become more aware of my surroundings and not trusting anyone. I had a tingling feeling of self awareness. I felt like it was from God. My mom had a relationship with Christ. I saw and heard it but I never understood it. I looked at school as a sanctuary. I did well in school. My after-school and weekend activities weren't my best choices. I tried to fit in with a bad crowd. Drinking and smoking. I became sexually active at 14. I was trying to fill a void still feeling emptiness. I felt worthless, loveless and just felt nothingness. I went through many relationships that failed. I had a bad attitude and poor judgment. I was looking for fulfillment in these men and I didn't find it. At 18, I graduated high school. I took a year off and got my first real job and applied for colleges. Around that time, I met a really nice guy and self-sabotaged the relationship. I asked for forgiveness and we continued the relationship without trust. I was verbally and mentally abused by him after we decided to continue with the relationship and I felt at my lowest. Eventually we ended the relationship. I jumped into another relationship after that; trying to fill the void. It ended shortly after I found out he was cheating on me and stealing. I thought at the time it was payback from the previous failed relationship. Then I met Tim. He was what I thought was going to be it, a good life together. I was finally happy, but everything I thought was deceiving. One day I found him on the floor kneeled down. I went to flip him backward to face me and he was so heavy. I saw a pale and cold face with an expression on his face that could never leave my mind til this day. I ran downstairs for help but I was alone. Calling 911, I learned how to do CPR that morning trying all I could to revive him but it was too late. Calling his mom and telling her that her son was unresponsive; this shattered me. Why did I have to see this? Why did I have to be placed in this situation? 6 months after his death, I found out he was battling a drug addiction and looking back, I was so blind to see what was in front of my face. I was furious and didn't believe that I could or be loved. I also thought that I could no longer be a person to help others, if I couldn't save a life.
Months had passed and I tried filling a void that couldn't be filled and I knew I was going to feel the same, shameful and disgusted with myself. A year and a half had gone by while I was back into old habits and dwelling in sin. As I was trying to better myself, I met my husband. The relationship moved fast and then we were married. I tried changing myself for better, but still struggled with my temper and outbursts. All of the negative I was pouring into the relationship overpowered the good. We were on the verge of a divorce and separated. I didn't want another failed relationship. This is the time I found God for myself. I started listening to k-love on the radio and started sewing my seed into the ministry. I started praying and talking to God asking him to help me. I was on the verge of losing my apartment and had nowhere to go so I moved in with my husband and his parents. Still struggling with our relationship trying to make it work. After a year, I kept feeling let down because we were still living with his parents. I went to live with my mom trying to make it into an ultimatum situation and it backfired. We went through financial struggles and nothing was going as planned. I moved back in with him and his family. I started putting trust in the lord. In 2023 I accepted Christ into my life as my lord and savior. I started getting a sense of peace and fulfillment. He filled me with hope. I realized not everything will go as planned but in time things will work out. I started to focus on my healing. My husband wanted to proceed with divorce because of his own reasons. Even though I didn't want to, I sided with his wishes. I was sad, confused, and angry. I turned to God for a different outcome. Counseling didn't work but before finalizing the divorce we rekindled. I believe that God had his hand in that. Our relationship got better and stronger. I felt blessed in God's favor. I can only explain it as peace and fulfillment. Something that only God has been able to do. In the summer of 2024, we found out we were pregnant. Both excited and thankful to God for allowing us such a blessing. The end of my pregnancy was scary. I developed a pregnancy disease where I had to have my daughter early. Scared and confused once again, I turned to the Lord in prayer for strength for me, my husband, and my daughter. God comforted me at that time and gave my husband enough strength for the three of us. I believe God showed us his grace. Scared not knowing if I or my daughter were going to make I put all my trust into the Lord. Again, he came through. My daughter was 2 lbs 11 Oz and she thrived. My c- section incision healed perfectly. My daughter is proof of God's love. During her hospital stay I prayed that she would be okay and that God would put protection over her. He did just that. I felt peace knowing she was going to be okay. I felt a calmness I never felt before. I still pray that God continues to work on me and through me. I know that I still have a lot of work to do but I know that if I continue to walk with God and put him into the center of everything, that each day will get easier.
I found a beautiful church where I feel at home. I believe that my family was led to Faith church. I am ready to let go of my past. Forgive those who have hurt me and am ready to forgive myself for allowing my past life to affect so much of my life now. I know that God is my peace. He is who has gotten me through all of this. I wouldn't be where I am now if I didn't put my hope, faith and trust in him. I know I am on the path he has led me to. I believe I was put on this earth to help people, that is part of my purpose, and with God's help, I know I can do all things and get through anything by trusting in him.
My story has just started. I will face any storm with God on my side.
Story 10
My whole life I struggled on dealing with hardships. I now realize that is because I didn't know God, I knew of God but didn't know how to have a relationship with him.When I was 13 my parents went through an divorce and that's when I started to get really depressed and had anxiety. I felt hurt and completely alone and instead of going to God I tried to find happiness in the wrong places. I tried to handle everything myself but I just kept feeling more empty. At one of my lowest points God introduced me to my best friend Wiley. He understood what I was going through and invited me to church. At first I thought he was crazy for saying that and I thought there was no way I could go but that day something in my heart was telling me to go. Once I started going to church I was scared to open up because I felt that I always ran away from God and I wasn't sure if I was worthy. I started praying for God to remove all negative into my life and last summer I lost a friend . She didn’t pass away but God removed her from my life. She was the person I would hangout with every weekend and she always made me feel better. I went into a time of depression and derealization. I isolated myself from my family and friends and I isolated myself from God. I now realize that all I needed to do was take God's hand and he will help me . I am now starting my journey trusting God's plan and I hold his hand during every hardship I face. I know that every hardship I face can not relate to the glory that will be revealed as I follow God.
Amanda Lugo
*I sought the lord, he heard, and he answered*
Holy Father,
Thank you,
From the depths of my heart… for never giving up on me. I’m sorry for blocking so many of the blessings you’ve tried to send me. So many of them missed opportunities.
As many times as you’ve shielded me from the enemy's attacks, that's as many times as I’ve run away from you, slamming the door behind me. Even still, you have always continued to show me love and give me the signs that you were still gonna be right there with me through it all, although a lot of the times I ignored them as I would sit in my darkest hours just to wallow in my sorrows spiritually fighting the enemy’s voices that would be screaming in my head that I was nothing special to anyone, I was meant to always be alone, I’d never amount to anything...
"The family curse was never going to end with me", is all I could think as I began to believe him because I didn’t understand why my Lord who was supposed to love me and would never forsake me allowed me to hurt so bad and suffer all alone wondering what it was that I could have done to deserve all of the horrible pain and agony I have had to endure so deeply in my heart and soul since I was just a young child. So many nights I would be down on my knees in the middle of my bedroom floor, alone, tears pouring from my eyes as I begged you to have mercy on me. Wishing you would snap your fingers and wake me from that nightmarish slumber I just couldn’t seem to escape from... So many years I've spent running in circles dragging the weight of so much shame, guilt, grief, worry, stress, and sadness that just seemed to get heavier and heavier each time around. Yet, all I had to do was slow down, let the dust settle, and trust in you to take that weight off my shoulders, allowing me to rest and catch my breath... finally being able to feel at peace, knowing I cast all my burdens onto you! I was too oblivious to it all though because the enemy’s grip on my soul was so tight. His claws dug so deep into my chest that I could barely breathe as he just watched me bleed out, knowing he was killing me slowly like he did with my parents and only two siblings... He wanted so badly to kill us all off. It took a lot for me to get up and fight back as I began to see the complete mess he had made in my life... I couldn’t even recognize the person I saw in the mirror anymore. I knew I couldn’t let him win. So I puffed out my chest and charged him head-on, but I was too weak mentally, emotionally, and physically to be able to take him on my own. My strength was no match for his... I eventually just stopped getting back up, I really was ready to just throw in the towel...
Then I heard your voice, faintly, in the back of my head saying “It’s not your time my child, get up”, so I lifted my head as I opened my eyes back up for the last time... I felt you pick me up off the ground, where the enemy had left my whole family to die... as I lay there in your arms with my body completely limp.. you, Father God, breathed life back into my soul while holding me close, keeping me protected as the wounds healed. It was then, in that moment, I knew that was never how my story was supposed to end… I was ready to let my guards down so I could follow you to my place in your prophecy. I was ready to fulfill my purpose and do your will on earth as it is in heaven. I now know you have never left my side during all the times I thought I was just a lost cause walking aimlessly through the dark... at my weakest moments, all I had to do was stop looking down at my sore feet and look up to see you have always left your light on for me so I could find my way back home. It was always you and your divine grace and love that kept my head above water, never letting me drown in those moments I just wouldn’t have ever been able to make it out on my own. You have never forsaken me and for that alone, I owe you my life! So this is why I’m choosing to lay it all down and trust your plan for my children and me is and always will be better than my own. We may have to endure some harsh trials and tribulations along the way but they are only preparing us for the beautiful blessing to come as I continue to keep my faith in your decisions. You will do what is necessary to shape us into who we were always meant to be as we take our place in line to become your walking testimony. I’ve had it on my heart to write a book series about my journey through the dark, which led me to the brightest of light. I have a very unfortunate story to tell that I believe will help many others as I spread your word and glory to the faint of heart, giving them hope and faith that it isn't the end... all they have to do is look up.
*Places everyone*
God says it’s time to line up!
Father God,
I know you gave everyone the ability to have free will so they would be able to make their own choices in life & walk the path they wanted to take but even if they did end up walking in the darkness going the wrong way, you would always have your light on in the distance so they could find the way back home to you…
Today Lord,
I ask that you forgive all my sins, that you silence the enemy’s voice in my head for good... as he no longer has a hold on my soul. I ask that you heal my heart and cleanse my body of all the evil negative energy the enemy has had latched onto me for so long. I ask that you allow me to make amends with my past so I can break the cycle my parents weren’t able to. I choose you, Father, i choose to surrender to you as I set myself free from this cage I've kept you from opening, time and time again. Thank you for never letting me down even when I couldn’t see you working. I will forever seek your guidance. I love you more today than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow.
In Your Mighty Name Jesus,
Amen.
Story 6
I grew up in the Catholic Church, but for most of my life, I didn’t truly know God. I believed in Him in a distant way—more out of tradition than relationship. As I got older, I drifted into the world’s promises of happiness: partying, drinking, experimenting with drugs, and chasing approval from others. I disrespected women and, in doing so, disrespected myself. I wore a mask that said I was fine, but inside I was drowning in depression, anxiety, and anger. I was a people pleaser with an empty soul—trying to fill a void with things that only made it deeper. I didn’t think much about Jesus then, and even when I did, I felt unworthy of His love. Everything changed when I became a father. When my daughter came into my life—and especially when I gained custody of her after her mother fell into darkness—I felt the weight of responsibility that no worldly pleasure could prepare me for. I knew I needed something greater than myself to guide me, something pure and unshakable. One day, I bought a Bible and started reading from the beginning. As I opened the book of Genesis, something in my heart shifted. It wasn’t just words—it was truth, alive and calling me. I felt God whisper that it was time to stop running, time to live differently—not just for me, but for my daughter. I decided to give my life fully to Jesus, to let Him lead me as a father and as a man. I wanted to raise my daughter to love Him, to know Him, and to stand strong against the darkness that this world so often disguises as light. Since surrendering my life to Jesus, everything has changed. The anger, depression, and anxiety that once controlled me have loosened their grip. I’ve stopped drinking and chasing after the empty highs of social media and worldly approval. Now, I find joy in the simple things—quiet mornings with my daughter, honest prayer, and the peace that comes from knowing I am never alone. My patience has grown, my purpose is clear, and though I still stumble, I no longer walk in darkness. I walk with Christ. My life is centered around God now, and that light is something I pray will shine through me and into my daughter’s heart. I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but this time, I’m not walking it by myself—I’m walking it with my Savior.