“I began using drugs when I was 24 after a serious car wreck that resulted in some extensive injuries. My drug usage started with prescription painkillers but escalated quickly to the point that I was using a deadly cocktail of addictive drugs. I shouldn’t even be alive to tell my story. I knew I was addicted when I realized I just could not stay clean, no matter how hard I tried or wanted to.
“Life became a dark, bitter place for me, and I knew that I needed something more to bring me out of it. I began attending a church, and some women there told me about a women’s rehab. They even sponsored me to go there. It was different from any other rehab I’d been to because it’s faith-based. I truly found God there. I learned that Jesus is the missing piece that I so desperately needed. Only He has the power to heal me—not just of my addiction, but of all my hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
“As I am transitioning out of the center, God has brought me so much restoration. I now have a job, better relationships with my family, and I am able to be a beacon of light to them. My relationship with Jesus continues to grow daily. It’s the firm foundation that I needed to not only get clean but stay clean.” —Margaret, age 291
1. What does God say to each one of us no matter what our past is?
Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
God begins drawing us to Himself long before we know who He is. He has always loved each one of us.
2. How well does He know us?
Psalm 139:1–4 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
We don’t need to hide anything from God. We’re fully known and understood.
3. How does God react to our faults and sins?
Psalm 103:1–5 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities [sins], who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
God knows our potential. He is focused on saving our life and helping us to become who He created us to be. We’re individually of priceless worth to Him.
4. If our sin earns us death, why does our faith in Jesus save us from perishing?
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We will never fully understand the incredible sacrifices God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—made to save us from our poor choices yet preserve our free will. We’re invited, not forced, to believe and respond.
5. What did Jesus do for us to save us from destruction?
Isaiah 53:4–6 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Self-interested, sinful choices cut us off from God, the source of life. We’re all under a death sentence for our disobedience to the law of life—unselfish love to others and loving obedience to God. But Jesus lived a perfect life and willingly suffered our death penalty. After He was raised from the dead, He became our heavenly Advocate. If we join ourselves to Him, His life and death become ours, and we can share in His eternal life. He encourages us to accept His sacrifice, but it’s purely our decision.
6. What did Jesus do during His time on Earth before dying for our sins?
Isaiah 61:1–3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ....to comfort all who mourn, ...to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
Jesus perfectly fulfilled this Old Testament prophecy. He spent His life setting people free. He’s still doing these things from heaven, and He’s longing to do them for you and me if we ask Him.
1. In the Bible, what does Jesus invite each one of us to do?
Matthew 11:28–29 Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Reading the stories of Jesus in the Bible is the best way to get to know Him. We’ll gain trust in Him and want to accept His invitation.
2. How do we come to Him and find rest?
Jesus illustrated how we can come to Him by telling a story about a lost son who returned home:
Luke 15:20–24 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him.... And let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
We can talk to Jesus just as we are, confessing our sins and our need of Him. He does not hold our past against us but welcomes us with joy as much-loved children returning home.
3. Do we have to clean up our lives before we can come to Jesus?
Luke 5:12–13 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
We can’t clean ourselves up any more than this leper could heal himself! Humanity is broken. Our need goes much deeper than getting rid of bad habits. The self-focus that’s deeply rooted in our nature needs to go. Only Jesus can make us truly clean. When we give ourselves to Him, He forgives our past sins and gives us a new nature—one that receives His unselfish love and reflects it back to Him and others.
4. What does Jesus promise so we can have a close relationship with Him?
John 14:16–18 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead. He brings the presence of Jesus right into our mind and fills us with God’s love. We’re now enabled to understand spiritual things and wholeheartedly obey God. Jesus' loving presence removes the emptiness we can’t fill without Him.
1. After we’ve given our life to Jesus, how do we continue to deepen our walk with Him?
Colossians 2:6–7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
How did we receive Jesus? We learned about Him from reading the Bible and talking to Him. When we confessed our sins and gave Him our life, He came into us through the Holy Spirit. We began to do what He asked of us, which brought us peace and fulfillment. We thanked and worshipped Him for His forgiveness and love, and we spoke to people about Him. As we do these things daily, our relationship with Him will grow and grow!
2. How do we deal with the temptation to do things we know are wrong?
James 4:7–8 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
If we pray for help the moment we realize we’re being tempted and then resist the temptation, we’ll be empowered to overcome it. Quoting Bible promises from God is a powerful strategy.
3. What if we sin?
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus still loves us and will forgive one who makes a heartfelt confession. See 1 John 2:1; Prov. 28:13. He can take away the attraction of particular sins so that we no longer desire or repeat them.
God loves us very much and gave us Jesus to be our way out of emptiness and defeat. We can come to Jesus just as we are. If we confess our sins and give our life to Him daily, He will be a continual Friend and Savior to us. We can joyfully receive both forgiveness and a new, victorious life in Him.
I would like to give my life fully to Jesus and receive the love, freedom, and overcoming power that only He can give.
All Bible verses are from the New King James Version
Men and Women of Hope, Testimonies, hrcwoh.com.
