By Lupe
Before I met Jesus, I battled depression and anxiety from the age of 13 to 19. I believed in God but was filled with anger and wanted nothing to do with church. I felt lost, with no guidance or direction in life, and my only goal became abusing drugs. For six years, drugs gave me fleeting moments of relief, but the pain always returned.
In high school, I dreamed of becoming a paramedic because I admired how they helped others. But during my first semester at the College of DuPage, I realized drugs were hurting my mental health and ruining my academics—I failed my anatomy class and had to drop it. That failure was a wake-up call. I knew I had a passion for medicine and a desire to help people, so I made the decision to try and get sober.
The summer of 2024 marked a turning point. I picked up my first Bible and started seeking God. I listened to devotionals during morning walks, even though I didn’t fully understand what I was doing. I kept relapsing, but I prayed that if God was real, He would save me from addiction and bring supportive people into my life.
In August 2024, I retook the anatomy class—this time, I asked God to help me. On the first day, as I approached the classroom, I overheard two men talking about Jesus. I paused to listen. One shared his testimony about overcoming drug addiction and depression through Christ. It deeply resonated with me. When he asked if I believed in Jesus, I told him I wanted to, but I didn’t really know who Jesus was.
He explained that Jesus is God’s Son, sent to forgive us and free us from the burdens we carry. Then, he asked if I wanted to accept Jesus as my Savior. I was shocked, but something in me said yes. I sat down, prayed with him, and admitted that I was a sinner in need of Jesus. As I repeated the words, I felt a rush of warmth and broke down in tears. It felt like embracing someone I hadn’t seen in years.
What stunned me most was the way he prayed for things he couldn’t have known—my anxiety, depression, and the absence of my father. He prayed for healing and comfort in areas I had told no one about. That day, I was invited to a Christian group on campus, and I knew something bigger was at work.
On September 19, 2024, I fully accepted Jesus into my life. My thoughts began to change. I started to hate the drugs and wanted real joy again. I realized I deserved to be healthy and happy. I began to explore who I really was, and with prayer and support, I worked through the roots of my struggles.
By December, I had been receiving consistent prayer for my addictions. Now, at 20 years old, I’ve been sober for five months. That may not seem like much to others, but for me, it’s a milestone I never thought I’d reach.
I now read the Bible with new Christian friends who support me. The life I used to live feels like a distant memory. Through my pain, Jesus reached me, and now I want to be that person for someone else. I want to share the Gospel the way that young man shared it with me.
God truly can do so much with so little. He brought me out of darkness into a new life. I share this testimony not for my glory, but for anyone who feels lost or hopeless. There is life beyond the pain—and Jesus is that life.
