Im 37 currently. I grew up going to Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. I grew up in a broken home. I had awful step parents on both sides. My brother and I went through a lot. My mom always made us go to church on Wednesday nights. I always knew there was a God and I always believed Jesus was real but there was a huge disconnect with me and God. My mom and dad never lived their lives the way church said we should. I rebelled against authority hard and was always lonely due to moving from school to school.

I got married at 18 thinking if I did God would bless me because it was better than living in sin. I thought I had it all figured out. That marriage failed miserably and I lived in fear so I rebelled again. This time though, I shut God out completely. I started living for the night life, trying to make quick money in shameful ways. It led me down a dark path that I wish for no one. It’s hard to get things out of your mind once you’ve been exposed to them. This is why God tries to keep you from them, not because he doesn’t want you to have any fun.

Soon after, I met another man and shortly after meeting him (3 months to be exact )we decided to have a baby. I loved this man and lust blinded us both but God still used it for good. Turned out that he was an alcoholic so we both came to the relationship with some baggage but God used this, too. Nothing is wasted with God.

The year before Covid I was faced with a dilemma regarding our daughter and it brought me to my knees. I gave my life to Christ that year and started learning what it really meant to be a follower of Jesus. I prayed for my alcoholic husband and our marriage that was falling apart. He was quick to answer. The following year, while going through Covid, my husband gave his life to Christ and started his journey. The Lord did a wonderful work in him. He stopped drinking and became a Chaplin for his department at work!

We have been married now for 13 years and all we want to do is live to serve Christ in any way He wants to use us. It’s amazing to see how far we have come and how God uses anyone He wants. It’s usually not who you would think!

I hope this encourages anyone who has gone astray and feels too far gone. It’s never too late to have the best life God has always wanted for you. The many sufferings I have been through has taught me a phrase that I read in a book called Hind’s Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. “Acceptance with joy”