- Drugs
- Faith
I share my personal story in the hope that it inspires hope in someone else. I was addicted to crack cocaine.
Before that addiction began, I had set out to become a U.S. Marine. I took the test to enter and unfortunately, when I took the physical exam, they found I suffered from asthma and I was not allowed to enlist. I was devastated. My only dream was to serve this country with all I had.
After some time, I decided to become a state police officer. I passed the initial test and received my blue envelope with the message that I had qualified for the initial process of applying. Two weeks after receiving that letter, I got my first drug charge. I was caught with crack in my vehicle. I was mentally messed up by that, because it wasn’t even my drugs. My world began to spiral upside down.
The streets became my friend and crack my love. It seemed that nothing mattered anymore. I was fortunate enough to make top dollar at the time, but I spent big money supporting my crack addiction.
Hitting Bottom
They say everyone hits bottom. I begin to lose the things that mattered. I lost my family, children, and friends to this drug called crack. I began to experience homelessness, loneliness, and sickness. I was so disconnected from the world. I was estranged from family when I received the telephone call that my father had died and the home-going service had already been held. I missed it because of my new love, crack.
Messed-up Relationship
I would get into toxic relationship because of drugs. I was in and out of drug programs and I had resorted to eating from the garbage can. One day I didn’t even recognize myself. I grew up in the church, so I knew who God was. I needed to reconnect. I began going back to church, praying, and seeking God. I needed His mercy and love.
After 30 years of being addicted, I crushed my hand on a job and was awarded $55,000.
That was a life-changer for me, I bought my dream 4×4 truck and the tools I needed to work for myself. I paid the people who had helped me back. I was on my way. It felt good to have some money after being unable to work for a year, but I messed up once again. I lost it all, and my truck. I ended up with the Bible.
It was all I needed.
The word of God was all I needed. I continued seeking God. He brought a young lady into my life. We hit it off; we had so much in common. It has been three years and I haven’t looked back. I’m happy, I’m free, and there’s no more demons chasing me. If a strung-out, crack addict like me can be set free, you can, too.
I am now an ordained minister and my wife and I share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He delivered me and set me free, he’s removed the chains that had me bound. I’m living for the first time in 39 some years.