⚠️ Trigger Warning: Suicide
Hey, friends!
My name is Jessi, and I’m deeply grateful to be a follower of Jesus. I want to share a glimpse of why this ministry means so much to me—because it’s rooted in my own story of healing and hope.
I was born into a family marked by addiction. Both of my parents struggled with drug use throughout my childhood. In 1997, at the age of 6, I gave my life to Jesus, but my journey was far from picture-perfect. My mom was always absent due to her addiction, and my dad lost custody of me when I was just 8 years old. At the age of 12, my mom lost her battle with addiction and took her own life.
Although I never saw my parents drink alcohol, I found myself deep in it by the age of 16. I wanted so desperately to numb the pain my parents brought me through their addiction. That same year, I was introduced to marijuana, and I began using both as a means to lessen the pain I carried inside.
In 2011, I married my first husband, who enabled my descent further into drug use, prescription abuse and dependency on marijuana. Our divorce pushed me into full-blown alcoholism. Their addictive tendencies were highlighted within my own addiction. Then in 2016, I met my current husband, Ernie. Together, we were what some might call “functioning alcoholics”—though I use the word functioning loosely. I couldn’t function at night without the alcohol and before I knew it, I spent every night drunk as my three year old lost the nights to snuggle and spend time with me. It didn’t make much of a difference then, but that’s only what I thought. I was spiraling into the same cycles of my parents, just with a different vice.
In 2018, my husband surrendered his life to Jesus and laid down his alcohol addiction that day. I initially gave up drinking just to support him. From 2019 to 2022, I fought the battle of addiction with pain medication I was prescribed. I had to be monitored closely to ensure I wasn’t misusing my medication, but it didn’t make any difference whether I took it as prescribed or not. Not only was I emotionally hurting, I was physically hurting due to a slew of health conditions I was plagued with at the time. On December 31, 2022, I took my final sip of alcohol for good—not out of obligation, but because I felt its grip trying to pull me under again. I knew it was time to fully surrender it to Jesus. I couldn’t take the chance playing with addiction again. Trading one addictive behavior for the next, I cycled through just about anything one could be addicted to.
Now, nearly three years alcohol-free and almost seven years removed from the depths of alcoholism, I stand in awe of what God has done. This ministry exists to share that same hope and victory with others—because healing is possible through surrender to Jesus. With my strengthened relationship with Jesus, surrendering my addictive mindset and behaviors has given me a new found freedom I never thought possible. With God, nothing is impossible.
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10
“I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.” — 3 John 1:4
I pray my testimony serves as a small spark of hope for anyone struggling with addiction. You are not alone. There is joy, freedom, and restoration in Him.
Walk in truth, light, and love!
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