What was life like before you met Jesus?
Before I met and got to know the heart of God I had needs that came from a lot of unmet expectations. Life was happy and full but it was lacking in joy. I had a wonderful husband two beautiful daughters a great job with a great paycheck. I spent my free time filling it with things to do. Thinking I was making others happy or at least trying to, the friends that I had I would give and give to and not receive the same respect that I thought they should give me back. I filled more time with shopping and being involved with the kids and the school. As the kids got older, the more I worked, the more I worked the more I made the more the more I made the more I spent. I spent a lot of weekends going out and looking for happiness that never lasted.
How did you meet Jesus?
At first I didn’t think my circumstances were leading me to know Jesus, I really thought I was entering hell. A place I never thought I would be, a place where suicide thoughts were an option. I began to work as much as possible and working all different hours. I was working so much that I began to take a prescription medication to help with sleep. When working wasn’t enough, the money wasn’t enough, my marriage wasn’t enough, even my kids - I started to drink and go out, all the while I was continually mixing this prescription medication and alcohol. After a night of drinking and taking prescription medication our lives fell apart - my family and I now had to deal with such a devastating traumatic event that I really didn’t know how we would make it or even if I wanted to stay alive long enough to figure it out - I was sexually assaulted under the influence of my prescription medication and alcohol. I went for help but the help didn’t come (not in the earthly way we expected). I was eventually charged with a crime and spent time in jail. I did not have any Christian friends to turn to, and 98% of my non-Christian friends left me. I had my husband and my daughters but they too were suffering hell on earth, so I just started reading the Bible and praying. It was all I had, I really had no other option but to trust God. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” Psalms 34:18.
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
Where do I start to tell about how God has met my every need. First I am alive all because my friend Dave called and at the same time my husband came to check on me, God sent them at the same time. My marriage is restored better than ever, and through our connection group that we were blessed with we have beautiful friends that God brought into our lives. God also removed friends from my life that were not good for me. God has provided jobs along the way at just the right time. He has shown my daughters what true strength in Christ looks like when all you have is God, God shows up in all you need. So my help came, just in time, at the right time. It took time to see that but God was my help. I know that I have eternal life through Christ because of God’s promise through Jesus who died on the cross for me, to cover me once and for all because I believe, I have faith and hope. “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3