I struggled with drug abuse and alcohol consumption.  I began by smoking marijuana regularly with a group of friends who were nice to me and I felt comfortable around.  Marijuana is known as the gateway drug for a reason, and my friends and I were looking for that next level of high.  We did our research and found that we all would like to try psychedelic mushrooms.  When eaten these produce very similar effects of LSD.  Little did I know I was in way over my head. 

Shortly after consumption I had my very first panic attack.  I realized that i had taken my life entirely too far from my roots and God.  I thought that I was going to die because of the mushrooms.  My heart raced faster than it ever has and I could not catch my breath at all.  I begged my friends for help but they were convinced that I did not need to attend the hospital.  Frustrated, I ran out of the house and hid while I waited to die.  Luckily I did not die.  The rest of that night is still a complete nightmare, and I still get scared reliving that memory.

After that experience I told myself that I was going to change for the better, and for good this time.  Unfortunately it was not my last time.  Around a week later I convinced myself that it was only the mushrooms that caused the panic attack.  I thought to myself that marijuana couldn’t hurt me, so I decided to smoke with my friends again. After this session, I started to experience similar effects as when I took the mushrooms.  My heart raced and my breath could not be caught.  My mind was filled with thoughts of God and how scared that I was to meet him because I was positive he would deny me and send me straight to hell.  It took me about another hour to calm down and realize that it still was not my time to go. 

As I was regaining reality with my friends in my car, God filled my head again but in an amazing and overwhelming way.  Suddenly I felt as if I was watching a movie of myself talking to my friends.  The words blurted out of my mouth and I shared my faith with both of my friends who were not Christians, and invited them to attend church with me.  I knew the exact words to say to them and I also knew what they would respond with.  God had placed these words in my head.  It was if i was simply reading all of my words off a piece of paper written by him.  It was an amazing experience because God really did take over.  He used my body to speak not only to both of my friends but to me also. I realized that I needed God more than ever, and that God’s plan for me is to witness to others and spread the amazing word of the Lord. 

To this day I am convinced that my panic attacks were caused by God, divine intervention as I call it.  He made all of this happen to get me back on track, and also to speak to others who need it.  After this life changing experience I felt pure joy.  God had answered my call for help, and my family’s prayers were also answered to get me to realize what I was doing wrong and how to change it.  God works in mysterious ways and He grabbed me by the soul and came into my life again, this time for good.  My struggles with drugs and alcohol are now under control, and my relationship with God is as good as it has ever been.  I stil pray that He will continue to work in my life, and that His will be done through me to help others.

I am a 20 year old college student.  I play baseball and have many friends and am generally well liked.  Grew up in a strong christian family with great support.

When I was around 8 or 10 years old, I’m not sure exactly, I had the same dream several nights in a row. In the dream, I found myself sitting in the middle of a wide field of yellow grass. I was sitting cross legged, with a small bird with a broken wing in my hands in my lap. 

I looked over to my left and saw a 3 story school house.  It was made of a dark red brick.  Suddenly, I found myself sitting on top of the school house with my legs dangling over the side.  As I was looking out over the field, I could see that the bird was still in the grass.

Suddenly, the bird turned into a powerful eagle and began to fly up towards me.  It landed beside me to my left.  When it landed, I saw a bright flash of light and the eagle turned into Jesus.  I remember my head was turned and I was looking at him.

As I was looking at him, he turned his face toward me and said, “Fear not, for I am always with you.”.

At that moment I instantly woke up.  I felt as if I was being bathed in love.  I felt so safe and peaceful.  Each time I had the dream, it was the same.  It was wonderful.  Something I will never forget. The experience still brings tears to my eyes.

I had many difficult years ahead of me.  Jesus was letting me know that I was not alone. I know he is still with me and watching over me. 

Next thing we know, my mom checks her phone and has a missed call. She called back, and it was our friend, who lives down the street. He had been driving out of the grocery store parking lot and saw a wallet on the ground. He got out of his car, opened the wallet, and discovered it was my mom’s.

Of all people, at all times, and right after I prayed? No coincidence there.

Thank you, God.

Towards the end of the night we were all hugging and saying “I love you.” It was great—all previous tension forgotten. I thank God so much for his deliverance!!! He is truly awesome!!!! He will raise you up from anything you are having trouble with. I LOVE YOU GOD!!!

I am 13 and I am constantly searching for God.

I don’t quite know what all happened behind the miracle. I got a coffee and a water. Somehow, I very quietly to myself said under my breath as a waitress came by with 2 burgers meant for a couple, said” Mmm. That looks good”. I told myself to shut up and do not even THINK of a burger, think of the soup you made yourself at home.

I went outside for a bit of air and then came in soon after. I saw something that was HIGHLY odd on my table. A wrapped set of cutlery. I thought “Now, WHY the cutlery? That IS odd.”  I tried to ignore it and divert my thoughts back to the soup at home.

I saw the waitress head up our way with yet another burger and fries. I nearly died when she said someone bought it for me. I wondered, WHO bought this. Suspicious that it was the table behind me, I thanked them profusely.

Next I was praying, thanking God for the food and emotionally thanking Him through and through.

I ate the burger and ended up thanking them again if it WAS them. I don’t know how the Lord must have impressed on them that I WAS hungry when I struggled not to even think of that, except the soup at home I had from lunch. I was in SHOCK from such a miracle.

J Mintuck is broke, but blessed by God in many ways.

After hearing her say these words, I couldn’t stand to even look in the mirror. I hated my life and everything I had done to her. Later that night I tried to take my life. I jumped in my car and drove to the place where I fell in love with her. I prayed to God when I got there, but saw no results right away. Being drunk and reckless, I climbed back into my car and drove down the road as fast as I could.

Screaming out her name, I let go of the wheel, hoping my car would roll enough times that I wouldn’t live through it. Something amazing happened instead. My car was sliding sideways, with me having no control at all. Somehow it straightened itself out and continued down the road. i drove for another mile before I stopped and pulled over and got down on my knees and thanked God for saving my life.

I never truly believed in God until that night. Thanks to him, I’m still alive today. I’ll never question his existence again and I will always share my story with anybody who is feeling down and lost.

Small town boy living a sheltered life.

As I was sitting in the passenger’s seat of mum’s Prado, I looked out the window. I saw all the bare and barren trees of Autumn.

But there was this one tree; it was just amazing. I took the time to study its glory as mum sat at the round-a-bout. It was an evergreen tree, so its leaves didn’t fall off in the Autumn. Its trunk started off straight and then it branched off into two branches. These two branches twisted and turned around each other, and looked amazing!

I realized that everywhere you look, God is there, and I didn’t feel so grumpy any more..

I live in New Zealand, I am 12 years old, and love seeing all God’s beautiful creations.

One day I was on the computer playing my favorite game. I was listening to some Christian songs too—Silent Night, Mary Did You Know, etc. I was in the middle of listening to Angels We Have Heard On High when suddenly I really wanted to write a letter to Jesus Christ. Towards the end of the letter, I decided to say it again.

I believe in you.

But this time, for just a second, my heart felt odd.  I started to tear up and cry. I was sitting there writing, “I love you Jesus. I love you Jesus and I will always love you.” Then when I was done I signed my name and put it in my bedroom. I will always read that letter if I start to feel weak, or my connection with God is starting to feel lost.

I love Jesus Christ. Sometimes I still question myself , but I think back to that letter and feel stronger.

I transferred to a public school 100x bigger than my old school. I was alone and scared and didn’t know anyone. I didn’t pray once for almost three months. It hurt to even think about praying. But, as time went on I started to gain true friends. I didn’t know how that happened until Thanksgiving when I was talking to my grandma and she started to cry. She said, “Madison, I prayed for you so much when you were at that school. And God answered my prayer.”

I thought about it and said, “What God.” I have never seen my grandma more hurt, than at that moment. My grandma is a God-fearing woman, she always has been. “Madison you don’t mean that. It may not seem like it, but when you went through all that stuff, God was helping you. Don’t you see? You went through a lot, but you’re the happiest that you have ever been.”

I had never thought about it that way before. I felt guilty of doubting Him. But I also felt angry at Him. I went to talk to my pastor and he explained all kinds of things to me—things that I knew, but I never fully understood when I sat in a pew every Sunday morning.

He helped me realize that God works in mysterious ways. He put me through a lot, but He never left me, and he got me to a place that makes me truly happy. You see, even though I doubted Him, He didn’t doubt me.

And now that I think about it, when I feel alone, I never feel REALLY alone. Sometimes I find myself just talking to Him, and joking with Him. Like, when you act like you are talking on the phone you feel stupid because you’re talking to yourself. But, when you talk to God, you feel like someone is on the other end.

That’s because there is. I realize that now.

Four years later I was at FCA camp and the speakers were talking about forgiveness. I had never forgiven that girl.

I was on the verge of tears when they played “How He Loves” by Dave Crowder Band. I started crying and went over to the priest who was there to talk to us. He helped me decide to forgive her that very night. I called her and she accepted my apology.

My bible verse that helped me through all of this was 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”