I struggled with drugs and alcohol abuse from 2016 until 2020. There was a traumatic event that happened in my life and because of that and the terrible choices I made; I experienced the most miserable years of my life.  I chose drugs over my friends and family.  I chose to divorce a wonderful man after 10 years of marriage.  I chose to neglect and not spend time with my 3 beautiful children.  I was on the edge of being homeless and I had ruined every relationship I had. I ruined my reputation by lying, stealing and only caring about what I wanted.  I had several stays at the county jail but it was only a temporary fix for my problems because soon after I would be released, I would be right back to doing what I wanted to do.  No matter what anyone said, I was too prideful to admit that I needed help.  For a long time, I told myself that I wasn’t “bad enough” to go to treatment. That was just a ploy from Satan to keep me from reaching out for help.

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In January 2020, I got pulled over on my way home from work.  In my messed-up mind, I’m thinking nothing is wrong. I’ve done nothing wrong so this is just a simple warning. Well, the Lord has a funny way of working things out sometimes. I had warrants I was unaware of and that started a whole new list of charges for me.  Now, as bad as this may all seem this was a sign from God that I needed to change and I needed to do it now!  I was in jail for 19 days and during that first week, I knew I had to change.  I no longer wanted to care for only myself, I didn’t want to neglect my children, I didn’t want my family worrying about me any longer. I wanted nothing more of the lifestyle that I had been living for so long. I was miserable and eaten up with shame and regret so I started praying. Now these weren’t the little “God help me get out of jail” type prayers, these were down on my knees begging God to give me another chance and to give me the strength to change into the woman he created me to be.

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When I spoke before the judge in jail, he offered me a place at The Summit for one year if I was willing to go.  I had heard of The Summit before but I really had no idea what it was.  I don’t think there was one person in that jail that didn’t think I was crazy for agreeing to go. They all tried talking me into changing it to a 14–28-day program. As good as that sounded, I was determined that I was going to do whatever it took to change and get my life straightened back out and that’s exactly what happened during my year at The Summit.

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The Summit provided me with a safe and structured environment where I could focus on the Lord.  I found out what it’s like to actually have a relationship with Him and to lean on Him and not my own understanding. I worked through my trauma and allowed the Lord to heal those empty places that I tried for so long to fill with substances.  I learned how to control my anger, how to raise children in a way that’s pleasing to the Lord, how to have godly relationships, how to take my thoughts captive and most of all, how to live life in a new way.  I had to learn how to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.  After graduating in February 2021, the Lord has opened so many doors for me.  I’ve gone from volunteer to employee to manager and now I am overseeing both of the Servant Mission thrift stores.  I am so blessed and I could never thank Him enough for all he has done in my life.

 

Not only has the Lord opened doors for me financially, but my children are now proud of their mother, my family and friends can trust and depend on me and I no longer have to live in guilt and shame!  Don’t ever lose hope or feel that you’ve gone too far Romans 3:23 says, “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.