Encourage and Be Encouraged

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved writing letters and corresponding with others. I have always been someone who encourages and supports people, which is why I had a successful cheerleading career. As the prison correspondence director, I encounter a heartfelt need for encouragement when we receive letters from inmates. It is both an honor and a privilege to recognize this need and respond to their letters.

We recently received a letter from one of our incarcerated VL family members. This letter included a tracing and a cutout of this particular person’s hand. Written on the hand was a message to Kristi which read, “Mrs. Johnson, this is my left hand, and whenever your left hand gets tired, use mine to aid and assist you in your time of need. You are a blessing in yourself. Lord bless you and everything you do.”

You see, he was writing to VL to express his gratitude for the prayers and ministry to those behind bars, but as he did so, he was also encouraging our team. What a refreshing piece of mail to open up. It served as a powerful reminder that those we serve behind bars are not only thankful for VL, but they also pour encouragement back into us—often at moments when we don’t even know we need it.

Around this same time, I felt compelled to send a text message to someone who has been a safe, loving, and encouraging resource to one of my family members. I wanted them to know that they bring me comfort, too, during this difficult time. I appreciate their counsel and trust them to steward the role they play in walking alongside and supporting my family members.

Not too much longer after I texted my thanks, I received a message back, and they expressed how much this message meant to them. It seemed significant and timely. I didn’t expect a reply– I only meant to share my gratitude.

Receiving their message in return uplifted my spirit in a way I hadn’t anticipated. When we set out to encourage others—or even unintentionally encourage someone—we often find ourselves being encouraged in return.

As I took a moment to reflect on the intentionality and depth of our Heavenly Father’s heart, I came across some scriptures that truly speak to His love and purposes for us.

“A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” – Proverbs 11:25

“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

Think of a time when someone unexpectedly encouraged you. Remember how much that lifted your spirits, even if you didn’t realize you needed it at the time. Have you ever sent a message or words of encouragement to someone, only to find out later that it was precisely what they needed? And in return, you felt encouraged as well? I genuinely love it when that happens!

Who is someone God may be encouraging you to uplift this week? You might have someone who has recently become a consistent source of encouragement in your life. I encourage you to reach out to them with a simple text, letter, or phone call. You can offer to pray for them or even stop by for a visit. Sometimes, shifting our focus from our own needs to encouraging others can transform our outlook on life.

My prayer is for the Holy Spirit to grant us sensitivity to those in need, inspire timely words of encouragement, and refresh and uplift everyone around us.

Today, if you need encouragement, take a moment to uplift someone else. In the beautiful way the Holy Spirit works, you will also be encouraged!

God Still Has a Plan

My life was almost over before I’d even learned to walk and talk. By the age of two, I had nearly died from eating poisonous berries, was traumatized by a big dog, and was revived by CPR when I drowned in a local pool. I’m sure my parents were relieved to send me off to daycare where I’d be less likely to fall into danger.

But they quickly had new concerns. I threw fits, bit my teachers, hit my classmates, and destroyed my toys. No one could calm me down.

My parents tried everything they could think of to straighten me out, but their punishment, born out of frustration, quickly escalated into verbal and physical abuse. The beatings were terrible, but my mother’s exasperated words hurt worse.

“You’re not normal,” she said. “Something is wrong with you.” To me, this translated to, “You are defective, flawed, and unlovable.”

When I was nine, my parents announced they were divorcing. The news was crippling, and I imagined I was to blame. Certain that my family would be better off without me, I attempted suicide. That landed me in a mental institution, but I left there in worse shape than before.

I returned to public school, but it wasn’t long before I was kicked out and placed in a special school for emotionally handicapped kids. I hated being labeled as different. It only confirmed what I already knew—something was wrong with me.

I carried around a great boulder of anger for many years.

Local gang members noticed me when my hot temper led me into numerous fights. I’d looked up to them for years, and now they were cheering me on. I became addicted to their applause; I craved it like a junkie craves drugs.

I joined the gang at 12. I fought and robbed anyone to prove myself and keep the applause coming. Man’s praise turned me into a brutal monster. The more recognition I received, the more ruthless I became. My insecurity and pride turned me into the devil’s pawn. I was willing to do his dirty work—anything—to get those guys’ approval.

But while I was doing my dirt on the street, God kept sending people to point me to Him. I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, but I believed God existed. Strangers of all sorts, even little old ladies, would stop to tell me about Him. My mom had grown close to God by this time, and she also urged me to seek Him. She took me to church, prayed for me, and repeatedly warned me to change my ways.

During one of my trips to juvie, Mom encouraged me to read the Bible. “Just ask God what He wants you to read, son. He’ll answer you,” she assured me. I tried reading, but nothing made sense at first. I decided to do as Mom said.

“Okay, God, what do You want me to read?” I asked. Immediately, the word Matthew flashed across my mind. I opened my Bible to the Gospel of Matthew and there, I met God for the first time. It felt like He was sitting in my cell with me.

Jesus’s words in His Sermon on the Mount cut especially deep (Matthew 5–7). God’s Holy Spirit dealt directly with me about my life, convicting me of my sin. For the first time, I realized how spiritually poor I was—separated from God and in desperate need of a Savior.

With my Bible still open, I considered following Jesus. But then I thought about all the fun I still wanted to have—I was only 15! Maybe I should wait. I had barely completed that thought when my eyes fell on Jesus’s words at the end of Matthew 7.

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (v. 26 NIV). That freaked me out. I didn’t want to be like that foolish dude whose whole life came crumbling down when a storm came (v. 27).

Not long after, I heard the gospel preached during a church service, and I decided I wanted Jesus’s forgiveness. I confessed my faith in Jesus and was born again (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23), right there in juvie.

I didn’t feel much different afterward, but my mom immediately noticed something had changed. She watched me walk across the visitation room to hug her and, fighting back tears, she said, “I see Jesus in you!“

After my release, I struggled to stay on track, but I was way too casual about Christ’s place in my life. I still wanted to do things my way. It wasn’t long before my old self and my bad habits crept back in.

With one foot in church and the other in the world, I fell. Every time I landed in jail, I’d pick up God’s Word again and start reading. My relationship with Him grew while I was inside, but as soon as I was released, I’d return to my mess (Proverbs 26:11).

One of my aunts told me to ask God what His calling was for my life. I felt the Lord calling me to minister to troubled youth. I found that ironic, considering my situation.

Things got a little better after my 18th birthday. I dated a good Christian girl, got a great job, and attended church regularly. But it didn’t last. I was stuck in a cycle I didn’t know how to break.

After I verbally abused and cheated on my girl, she broke up with me. I felt rejected, even though I knew it was my fault. Driven by anger and a renewed thirst for violence, I jumped back into the gang, rebelling against God and His call on my life. I acted like I’d never known Him.

But as I ran from God, homicide detectives were running after me. I was the prime suspect in two separate murder cases, and those officers left no stone unturned in their hunt for me.

God even attempted to reach me through a total stranger. The woman looked directly into my eyes as I robbed her family at gunpoint and said, “God still loves you. He still has a plan for you.“ The Holy Spirit spoke to me through that lady and shook me to the core.

In His grace, God was so patient with me. His love and goodness followed me (Psalm 23:6), and there was nowhere I could hide (Psalm 139:7–10). There was nowhere I could hide from the police either.

My reign of terror ended three days after that lady spoke to me. A swarm of police and a S.W.A.T. team took me down and booked me into Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix for first-degree murder and two aggravated assault charges.

A few days later, God woke me around 3:00 a.m. to ask me a question. “Can you hear Me now?“ His question reminded me of those old cell phone commercials.

“Yes, Lord, I hear You.“

His next question caught me off guard. “Who are you?“

“Umm, I don’t know?” That was true, but I had never admitted it to anyone before, not even myself.

“It’s time to let Me show you who you really are.” And on that hot August day in 2001, from my top bunk in an Arizona jail cell, I finally surrendered my life to the God who had relentlessly pursued me.

The Lord began peeling back the layers of my false identity, revealing that I had been living a lie since I was 12. I’d wasted precious time and caused unspeakable harm to others. I was ready to stop seeking approval from people and start living for something of eternal value—Jesus Christ. After all, He died for me. How could I not live for Him?

I’m done wasting my loyalty, Lord. I’m all in, I prayed.

Miraculously, the murder charge was dropped, and I was able to spend some time with my family before going to prison for 10 years for the assault charges in 2002.

While in prison, I kept my eyes fixed on the Lord and grew stronger in my walk. I had served four years when I was charged with second-degree murder in an unrelated case. I went back to court and took responsibility for my actions. I ended up with additional time, but it felt good not to run from things anymore but instead trust God with the outcome.

As I faced my victim’s family in court for the first time, the Lord revealed the deep pain my actions had caused. A mother, father, and daughter sat silently staring at me—the man who had taken their loved one away. I left the courtroom overwhelmed with grief and the sorrowful repentance I had read about in the Bible (2 Corinthians 7:10).

I spent the next two decades in prison while the Lord transformed me from a monster into the solid man of God I am today. It was a painful and complex process, but I had nothing to lose and everything to gain (Philippians 3:8–10).

I avoided prison politics carefully, but there were other tests and distractions. I had to be vigilant not to let the enemy gain any ground (Ephesians 4:27; 1 Peter 5:8).

My mother and grandmother died six weeks apart, and I grieved hard. My world was shaking, but I had a firm foundation (Psalm 16:8). Jesus was my rock and my source of support as I struggled with the depression and grief that followed.

I lost my father in 2017, right before I was transferred to ASPC Florence North Unit. But God had an assignment waiting for me there that kept me from slipping into despair. I leaned on Him for strength and forged forward.

At my new location, I worked for Chaplain Samuel Lee, and he became my mentor. With his support, my discipleship training advanced quickly. I also connected with other brothers in Christ who encouraged me to embrace God’s gifts and stay focused on His mission after my release. Men like Chaplain Lee and Richard Moore, another mentor for over 20 years, strengthened my faith as my time in prison came to an end.

In 2022, I emerged from prison a free man, not because the gates had finally swung open to let me out, but because Christ had already set me free on the inside from anger, approval-addiction, and many other things (John 8:32, 36).

I was released into the Men’s Discipleship Training program at Along Side Ministries, where a whole community embraced me with Christ’s love. I felt an incredible sense of belonging.

The Lord has blessed me in ways I never imagined, bringing a strong woman of God into my life who encourages me daily. I have a supportive church family and a career mentoring the incarcerated. I’m also working with Chaplain Lee at a release center in Phoenix called New Freedom.

I help others, just as God said I would!

Despite my many mistakes, Satan was unable to derail God’s plan for me. If you’re wondering if it’s too late for you, I can tell you, it’s not. God still loves you, and He still has a plan.

Varrone White was an enemy of God and a slave bound to the devil before Jesus broke every chain. Today, Varrone tells others about Jesus, the Savior who died so that we can live. He uses his past experiences to help the incarcerated and returning citizens find hope in their circumstances as a leader at Along Side Ministries and New Freedom in Phoenix.

You are Loved, No Matter What

My mother always and openly preferred my sister to me. I never resented my sister, though. I loved her, and as an adult, eventually saved her life. As for my dad, I knew he loved me, but he was seldom home, and his work-related absence walled off the warmth of his affection.

I didn’t resent my mother for her favoritism and rejection either, though I did grieve her love. Somewhere in my young heart, I agreed with what I imagined she felt—I was insignificant, unattractive, and unacceptable. I didn’t belong in the circle of her love.

I learned to put on a mask, hoping to win favor. I became quite the little performer. I sang my first solo of “Silent Night” in Spanish at my kindergarten graduation without an ounce of stage fright. The attention and applause fueled my desire to be seen and accepted—to be loved.

Gaining esteem outside the home gave me some standing with my mom, and I could see she was proud of me as I advanced in theater and public speaking. I was accepted at a top university in theater.

People said I was gifted, but on the day of my first college audition, I froze. Negative thoughts assaulted my mind. You don’t belong here. You’ll never be accepted. They don’t need you. You don’t know anything.

I listened to those voices and left the auditorium without trying out for a single play. Defeated, I began smoking weed and going through the motions in my classes. I became promiscuous, too. I was so eager for attention that I gave away my body for nothing.

I quit college two years later when a guy asked me to move in with him. Imagine my father’s hurt when he learned how I’d squandered my inheritance, myself, and the opportunities afforded to me. But just like the father of another foolish young soul in God’s Word (Luke 15:11–32), my dad had only love for me.

At 20, I finally left that guy. I got a waitressing job and moved to a studio apartment downtown. Dad was relieved. One day, he suggested, “Why don’t you try radio? There’s a vocational program here in town that I did at your age. I even got on the air in Paducah, Kentucky. You’ve got such a great voice—you’ll be fantastic!”

I was working toward this goal when I met a young man at the restaurant where I worked. He lavished me with poetry and flowers, telling me he loved me and that we’d marry. I loved him, too.

We stayed together as I completed my studies. I landed a radio gig in a nearby town and commuted home to him on weekends for a year. And then I got a break—I was hired in the Twin Cities, a major market, and at 23, my relaunch felt complete.

Three months later, I got pregnant. I wasn’t too concerned at first; surely, we’d get married. But then my fiancé announced matter-of-factly, “The timing is off. Get an abortion, and we’ll try again later.”

Others affirmed that his decision would be best. I never even asked myself what I wanted. Just like at that audition, I froze, imagining the shame of being unmarried and pregnant. But by now, I knew how to play the part and go along with the script.

I checked out mentally and emotionally on that tragic day, moving through the drama as if it were happening to someone else. I was doing fine until an attendant took my hand as the procedure was about to begin, and asked if I was all right. Her small gesture woke me up, and I knew that what was about to happen was wrong.

Picturing my fiancé in the waiting room, I felt nothing but hatred. But then I imagined keeping this child and being a single working mother. Impossible.

Feeling utterly alone and abandoned to this undesired fate, I nodded at the lady and said, “I’m fine.”

Taking the life of my child took only a moment, but I have lived with that moment ever since. Later that night, I held my own hand, desperately trying to recall the only kindness I’d felt that day. I found no comfort.

Desperate for approval and purpose, I turned to radio as an escape and a source of redemption. I threw myself into the job, which I loved, and proceeded up the ranks, all the while unchaste in my lifestyle.

At 28, I experienced an urgent desire to become a mother. I met a man and married him nine months later. We were nominal Christians who didn’t understand Jesus’s love or the cross. We didn’t understand each other either, nor did we have the faith to work through our marital problems.

Despite our shortcomings, God granted us two beautiful children, but after eight long and challenging years, we divorced. His issues and my codependency left us both without hope.

The weight of that failure drove me to a support group, where I met a friend who told me about God’s unconditional love and gift of forgiveness. She informed me that, even though Jesus had seen every detail of my life, He’d loved me through every minute of it and had made a way for forgiveness and healing (Romans 5:8).

She showed me 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT). And then she said that God loved me so much that He would’ve sent Jesus to die for me…even if I were the only one who needed saving (Luke 15:4).

I was captivated by the idea of a love like that. Could it be true? What must this Jesus be like?

I pondered those questions for weeks until one day, I finally let go and believed what my friend insisted: Jesus loves me because that is who He is—He is love.

In faith, I received His gift of love and forgiveness. I found comfort in knowing that God was mine, and I was His. I belonged to Him (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1).

Soon after that, I met my husband Bruce, who was also recently divorced. (You can read his story on page 26). We attended his church, where I was discipled in my newfound faith. There, I discovered the truth and beauty of God’s Word, and it became alive in me (Hebrews 4:12).

But for the first 10 years after my faith became real and more than 20 years after the abortion, I kept that dark secret to myself. I couldn’t imagine that my new friends, who seemed so godly and upright, would accept me if they knew my past.

I was trapped in worldly sorrow—a dead end of regret and grief. What I needed was godly sorrow that would bring me to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). I discovered this sorrow at a discipleship retreat in 2001, where I was challenged to imagine myself at Jesus’s crucifixion and ask myself, who there best represented the state of my heart? Was it the weeping women? The angry mob? Pilate? Pilate’s wife? (See Matthew 26–27; Mark 15; Luke 23; and John 18–19.) I decided I was most like the guards gambling for Jesus’s cloak.

I coveted His cloak for my purposes—to increase my worth and value in the eyes of others. The full weight of my selfish heart drove me to my knees, crying, “I have crucified You, Jesus, and I am so sorry. I don’t want You to suffer for my wrongs.”

My heart broke as I thought about Jesus’s bravery to give His life for us. It gave me the courage to step across a line and plead guilty to it all. I waited a long moment, expecting judgment, but instead, I heard the Lord whisper in my innermost being, “Now tell others that I love them.”

“But Lord,” I argued. “After all that I’ve done?” I was unworthy to tell others about Him!

“Yes,” He affirmed. “You understand the depth of my love. Go. Tell them I love them.”

For the first time, I realized my worth in God’s eyes. All my life, I’d felt unloved. But now I saw it: I was worthy to tell others about the love of Jesus Christ, a love of such great worth, because I’d experienced it.

The next day, a woman shared with me that she’d lost a child to abortion. No longer ashamed, I told her that I’d had an abortion too. We wept together as the miracle of grace washed over us, assuring us that Jesus was holding our children in heaven.

Since then, God has allowed me to share His love in many places and with many people, including at weekend prison retreats through Kairos Prison Ministry.

Over the years, the Lord has continued to heal the wounds of my past, including my relationship with my mother. God gave me the gift of being her caregiver at the end of her life, during which time she disclosed how she’d been forced to abort when she was only 17. The trauma of burying her son, alone and afraid, was still fresh and deep 60 years later.

Much later, God revealed how her rejection of me may have reflected her deep disappointment that she’d not been given a son to replace the one she’d lost as a frightened and desperate teenager. Flooded with compassion, I forgave her completely. Today, I look forward to our blessed reunion in heaven.

Not long after Mom died, I became a living kidney donor to my sister. Through that act, my story changed from being a person who took a life to one who gave a life-saving gift.

Many women and men have confessed their part in abortions, especially in jails and prisons. They long for God’s grace, forgiveness, and healing, yet they struggle to receive it because they cling to their pain and shame as a way of holding on to the little life gone too soon. It’s all they have. Others think holding on to shame honors the child they’ve harmed.

But this is not God’s will. Doing these things causes us to reject God’s grace and mercy and keeps us in a constant cycle of self-punishment. Self-punishment is not God’s plan for any of us. He took the punishment for all our sins—even abortion—on the cross (Romans 3:21–31). He also made a way for us to see our children again in heaven. If we are believers in Jesus Christ, we have the gift of eternity with our little ones. We can grieve with hope.

If you’ve been carrying the weight of shame, regret, and grief for an abortion—or any action—I encourage you to release it, once and for all, to God’s care. Receive His gift of mercy and grace.

You are loved and forgiven. No matter what!

Kim Ketola, a chaplain and pro-life advocate, is an award-winning writer and broadcaster whose life experience ministers to those hurt by abortion. The second edition of her book, Cradle My Heart, Finding God’s Love After Abortion, is available on Amazon. Learn more at cradlemyheart.org.

Embrace God’s Plan

In February 2020, I met Kristi, the founder of Victorious Living Ministries, at a Rescued Not Arrested (RNA) volunteer banquet. Our lives had taken very different paths before that night, but we would soon learn that God was connecting us for a special purpose.

That evening, I shared how Jesus Christ had changed my life in prison after I received a copy of His Word from RNA volunteers. As I stepped off the stage, Kristi approached me, handed me a Victorious Living magazine, and asked me to consider sharing my story.

I hesitated for a couple of weeks before I finally hammered out my testimony and sent it to her. I didn’t really expect a response, but the next day, I learned my story would be published in VL’s April 2020 issue, alongside RNA’s founder, Roger Munchian.

“You’re an incredible writer, Christina!” Kristi said, encouraging me to submit more articles. She didn’t know about my almost-forgotten childhood dream of being a writer. Likewise, I didn’t know Kristi had prayed for help with the magazine. God brought us together at just the right time to join forces in writing stories for His glory.

In July 2021, I officially joined the Victorious Living Ministries team. Kristi and I joyfully collaborated on the magazine’s production for the next several years, hopefully frustrating Satan with every testimony written (Revelation 12:11).

However, over time, our working relationship encountered some challenges. In my role as production manager, I struggled to meet writing deadlines and keep up with the growing needs of the ministry. Something had to change.

After prayer and some difficult, honest conversations, we both agreed that it was time to redefine my role. I was taken aback by the unexpected waves of grief. Losing something important to us always hurts.

Negative thoughts and feelings of shame and failure arose, and I had to remind myself that my worth and value aren’t tied to a title or role but to God’s unchanging love and the unique gifts He’s given me to do His work.

King David faced a similar situation. He decided to build a temple for God, where the Ark of the Covenant could rest and people could worship the Lord. But God wanted the temple to be built by someone with peacekeeping qualities that David, a warrior, didn’t possess. Imagine the king’s disappointment when he learned that God had chosen Solomon, his son, to do the job instead of David (2 Samuel 7:1–17).

God wasn’t obligated to explain His decision. Still, He took the time to remind David of His faithfulness and made important promises regarding his throne and family.

David praised the Lord and put his heart into the work God assigned to him (2 Samuel 7:18–28). From his royal position, the king rallied the people’s support and served his son by gathering materials and making other necessary preparations. He set Solomon up for success in building the temple and encouraged his son to “be strong and courageous, and do the work” (1 Chronicles 28:20 NIV).

David’s response has helped me navigate this transition. I don’t need to know what the next season holds because God has already prepared my path (Proverbs 16:9; 19:21). I am grateful for His call to serve Him and to Kristi for supporting my growth as a writer and member of the Victorious Living writing team. I am committed to doing whatever God asks with integrity and excellence, just like David did.

Friend, are you disappointed over something that didn’t turn out as you hoped? Please remember that feelings aren’t facts. God is good, and so is His plan for your life, even though it often looks very different than what we envision (Isaiah 55:8–9).

Take a moment to reflect on God’s faithfulness in your life. Keep your focus on Him and continue to move forward. And in difficult times, be grateful that He has chosen you and saved you for eternity.

Embracing His plan will bring you peace and fulfillment, even when things don’t go as expected.

Christina Kimbrel develops content for use on VL’s many platforms. Once incarcerated, she now ministers hope to those held captive by their past and current circumstances by sharing the message of healing she found in Jesus.

God’s Love Won’t Fail

My childhood was dark. But with God, I’m returning to painful moments and finding healing.

One such memory takes me back to our community pool in Sacramento. I can still hear my uncle calling me down to the deep end. I knew what would happen before I put my toes on the pool’s edge.

“Jump!” he’d say. “I’ll catch you.” I knew better. I also knew I didn’t have a choice.

Paralyzed by fear, I’d pee myself as I looked around, waiting for someone to help me. People were all around, but no one ever stepped in.

The look in my uncle’s eyes warned me not to scream or run. It also gave me a glimpse of what would be waiting for me at home if I didn’t jump. So I jumped—not because I trusted him, not because it was fun, but because it was what I had to do.

My uncle never caught me. He found joy in watching me struggle beneath the surface. When he couldn’t get away with it any longer, he’d pull me up, laughing like it was a game.

But it wasn’t a game to me.

Looking back, I see it for what it was. Moments like that were part of my uncle’s sick pattern to scare, confuse, and hurt me. Afterward, he’d take me out for pizza. That, too, was a game—feed me after breaking me.

I was only five, but I took it like a grown-up. Some part of me imagined that my uncle’s actions were a form of love. I also thought obedience was what I had to do to be cared for. My uncle always made sure my mom, sisters, and I knew that if it weren’t for him, we’d be homeless. We were a burden to him with a price tag.

I loved my mom and sisters, so I did whatever my uncle asked of me. I jumped so we could survive.

Encounters like this one, and worse, took a toll on my mental health and led me down dark paths. I thought my life was hopeless until I met the love of God.

God’s love changed everything. It taught me what love should look like so that I could receive it and give it.

So what does love look like? Love is kind and patient; it’s never rude or demanding. Love gives, heals, and helps; it never takes, hurts, or disappoints. Love strengthens, catches, and carries; it never fails, drops, or abandons. (See Deuteronomy 1:31; Joshua 1:9; John 3:16; Romans 5:8, 10:11; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7; Philippians 4:13; and 2 Peter 3:9.)

God and Jesus have demonstrated this type of love throughout history.

My walk with God has often led me to what feels like the deep end of a pool. And His love has asked me to leap by faith into waters too deep for me. At times, I’ve stood on the edge, paralyzed by fear. But somehow, I keep finding the courage to leap. In some strange way, what I experienced as a little boy developed a resiliency to jump and to keep jumping.

But you know what? Unlike my uncle, my heavenly Father has never asked me to jump so that He can hurt me. He’s never let me sink, nor does He find joy in my struggle. God—because He is love—has always caught me. He is with me and for me, and nothing can separate me from His love. (See Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:38; 1 John 4:8.)

Perhaps past experiences have led you to a warped view of love. Maybe, like me, you didn’t have good examples of love, and as a result, you found yourself in painful places of survival.

There is hope in God. You can trust Him. God the Father is not like the people who have hurt you in the past. He won’t fail you.

He can’t, because in Him, there is no darkness (1 John 1:5).

JC ALMANZA is on a journey of learning and growing, experiencing mental, emotional, and physical healing along the way. He is committed to helping others find the peace and joy that has transformed his life. For more information, go to Wrong2Strong.com.

When Shortcomings Become Long Goings

I didn’t set out to wander in circles. No one does.

But I’d left some shortcomings unchecked, and they became “long goings.” They took me farther than I wanted to go, kept me longer than I wanted to stay, and cost me more than I ever intended to pay.

We all have shortcomings. Whether it’s pride, people-pleasing, addiction, avoidance, anger, or something else, we all have character flaws and unhealthy patterns that for us feel comfortably familiar.

But don’t be fooled. Those comfortable things are not friendly tour guides. They lead us on long goings—painful detours that cause us to wander in the wilderness of disconnection and destruction. And those detours take us far from the promised land of freedom, purpose, and peace—the life God designed for us to live.

We can learn from the Israelites’ long going in Exodus. Millions of God’s people wandered around the wilderness for nearly 40 years because of their rebellion and unbelief. And as they wandered, they played the blame game and justified their actions. We do the same. We overcomplicate what God makes simple.

Scripture often describes God’s way as “straight.” Proverbs 3:6 tells us that He makes our paths straight when we trust Him. Isaiah 40:3 says that God even straightens out our crooked paths.

For years, I was on a crooked path due to my disobedience, rebellion, and pride. I resisted the hard work of honesty and healing, feared vulnerability, clung to control, and chased things that were never satisfied.

I said things like, “It’s not that bad,” and “I’ll stop tomorrow” as I wandered around the dryest of lands. I even convinced myself that God understood. And He did. But understanding isn’t the same as endorsing.

Fortunately, God loves us too much to let us settle in cycles of self-destruction. He knows the longer we stay there, the deeper we will fall into unhealthy behaviors, misbeliefs, and shame. We’ll become disconnected from God, distanced from others, too far gone, and oh, so lost.

I still deal every day with the damage my long goings caused. Healing takes time and hard work. But that’s where the miracle of grace comes in. Even if we’ve taken the long road, it’s never too late to turn around. The minute we ask for help, God meets us right where we are, points, and says, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21 NIV).

God doesn’t shame us for our detours. Every time we admit and surrender a shortcoming, He reorders our steps and restores the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25–27). Our God can even make a way where there is no way (Isaiah 43:16, 19).

These days, I’m learning to take the quicker path by trusting God and obeying Him. His way truly is better and helps me avoid painful paths. I no longer want to argue with Him—that only stalls and sabotages my progress.

When I feel tempted to retreat into old mindsets or behaviors, I ask myself: Will this choice lead me toward connection or away from it? Toward healing or deeper into hurt? Toward God or away from Him? These questions help me avoid unnecessary, painful journeys.

Perhaps you’re on a journey like that now. Let me offer you some hope. You don’t have to earn your way back to God’s straight path. You need only to take honest steps in His direction, surrendering your life, shortcomings and all, to Him. In that place of surrender, you’ll find love, acceptance, and help to walk a new, better path.

You’ll still face resistance. As you go, old patterns will call to you, but they don’t get the final word. Jesus does! He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).

God is still in the business of turning even the longest, ugliest, most shameful long going into a beautiful testimony of transformation. My life is proof.

His love always knows the way.

Sheridan Correa is a trauma-informed biblical counselor who serves as the wellness program director for Victorious Living. A wife and mother of two teenage boys, Sheridan has been radically changed by Jesus.

You Are Somebody to God

“I just don’t fit in!”

I repeated that line for most of my young life. As far back as I can remember, I struggled with my self-worth, never feeling like I measured up to those around me.

No matter how hard I tried, I consistently failed. It didn’t help that I had a terrible speech impediment. My speech was so bad that my grandmother could not understand me. The kids at school teased and laughed. I felt broken beyond repair. I attended speech therapy in the first grade.

Ironic, isn’t it, that God would eventually call me to preach?

My feelings of inadequacy increased at age nine when I was molested. I wrestled constantly with overwhelming pain and confusion, not understanding why such things were happening to me.

By the time I was a teen, I’d given up trying to earn approval. Instead I went into full-blown rebellion. I withdrew from the world—it didn’t want me anyway.

I turned to drugs and alcohol as an escape, attempting to dull my inner pain and the memories. My drug use increased as I pushed the limits for a bigger buzz and a higher high. There was not a drug I wouldn’t use if given the opportunity.

My drug buddies liked to twist an old Life cereal commercial, saying, “Give it to Mikey. He’ll try it. He’ll try anything.” I didn’t care—at least this group of fellow drug users accepted me.

It would take much hardship and loss to finally discover the One who truly accepted me and could lead me to a better life.

I received Jesus as my Savior at the age of 27, and immediately, I was all in for Him. I held nothing back, living as hard for Him as I had for drugs all those years before.

My recovery was miraculous, but I continued to struggle with my identity, as I still equated my concept of self-worth with performance. I was desperate for people to accept me, but I didn’t know how to win their approval.

I began serving as a pastor in 1991, carrying with me that same need. I was so afraid of failing to meet the expectations of those I was leading that I made myself sick.

I quickly learned that I could not please everyone, but instead of giving my efforts to God, I just kept working harder. The result wasn’t a pleased congregation—it was personal exhaustion, complete with headaches, stomach disorders, poor concentration, and worry. I lost important relationships as I attempted to earn the approval of people I’d never please.

Finally, I realized Jesus didn’t want me to live that way. He wanted me to experience a whole and abundant life (John 10:10). He wants that for all of us, no matter who or where we are.

A common obstacle to living out the full life God intends for us is the false belief that our value originates from what we do. We end up working ourselves to death trying to become who we think we’re “supposed” to be.

If that’s you, let me share the good news that finally set me free: Our value isn’t in what we do but in who we are, especially as believers. Our value is realized in our relationship with God.

It’s about our “being,” not our “doing.” In Ephesians 1, God says that once we place our faith in His Son, we are blessed, chosen, predestined, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed. We are also included. Ephesians 1:13 says you “were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (NIV).

Did you hear that? You are included.

So, in a world where you don’t fit in, look to God for your worth and acceptance. He accepts you because of who you are. You’re His if you have put your faith in His Son for salvation.

Receive that truth, and you will experience the full life only God can provide.

Michael Dixon surrendered to God after childhood trauma and addiction nearly destroyed him. Today, Michael is a pastor, author, licensed addiction specialist, and director of L.I.F.E. Ministries. His curriculum, L.I.F.E. Ministries, helps others find wholeness and freedom in Christ Jesus. It can be purchased on Amazon and can be viewed by the incarcerated on Edovo and through VL’s platform on Pando.

The Meaning of Grace

“If you want to break up with me, I will understand,” I said, watching her face for any sign that she wanted out.

Kim didn’t deserve to have to deal with my problems. She’d already been through a difficult marriage and divorce. Now, here I was, adding to her pain.

“I crashed my car last night after I had too much to drink.” Surprisingly, she didn’t yell at me or run. Instead, she leaned in to listen, extending grace instead of abandoning me.

Grace has been defined as getting something good that you don’t deserve. It’s a complex concept to understand and a difficult gift to receive at times. I will forever be grateful to Kim for offering me that undeserved gift of love, forgiveness, and acceptance after I failed.

It wasn’t the first or even the second time I’d escaped the consequences of drunk driving. Thankfully, it would be the last.

The first accident happened during my senior year of high school after I’d partied with some older guys. The second crash, in my mid-20s, followed a day of drinking at a company picnic. And this latest rollover occurred after an evening of drinks with a friend.

If you knew me, you would never have guessed I struggled with alcohol. None of the above incidents had ever led to an arrest or a DUI, so no one was the wiser. I played well the part of a churchgoing, hardworking, good guy who was a responsible, capable, firstborn son.

I knew what I should do because I’d witnessed it growing up. I had loving parents who took my brothers and me to church every week. They also modeled an excellent work ethic. Mom was busy at home, caring for us kids, while Dad worked long, hard hours, providing financially for his family.

After church, however, we often visited our many aunts and uncles. There, I saw something else modeled as the men gathered to drink beer and get drunk. To my little mind, I understood that drinking and getting drunk must be what a man does.

Things changed for my brother, Mike, and me when our brother, Brian, was born with Down syndrome. Now, don’t get me wrong. I loved my brother and learned from him the value of every life. But at the same time, it felt like we’d lost our mom. I was ten.

Mom had her hands full, so I learned to deny my emotions. As a teen, I discovered that drinking helped me escape my negative feelings. It also made me feel like I belonged. My parents had no idea.

After I was confirmed in the church at the age of 14, I stopped attending regularly. And when I got my license, I took a job working on Sundays to avoid church altogether.

What did it matter? To me, I’d already checked the faith boxes required for me to get to heaven. I had no idea what the Bible said about being a Christian—a follower of Jesus—or how to have eternal life. I didn’t understand God’s gift of grace, what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus, or why I should want or need one.

Years later, in college, I met and married my first wife. She was studying to become a physician. We wanted kids but knew her job would make that difficult. When our son came, I agreed to stay home to care for him. When we had our daughter, our family seemed complete.

I loved being a hands-on father, but I was oblivious to some important issues in my life. For starters, even after two car crashes, it hadn’t occurred to me that I had a drinking problem. I didn’t realize I had a marriage problem either.

In 1988, a couple years after our daughter was born, my wife and I divorced. I was in my late 30s, starting over, and navigating a shared custody settlement. Our new situation took a toll on our family. But through the difficulties, I began to realize the sacredness of marriage and my need for God and a Christian partner.

When the kids were seven and five, they attended a Vacation Bible School (VBS). They loved VBS—playing games, creating crafts, and learning about God. They came home wanting to be baptized.

I hadn’t been to church in years, and only then for a wedding or funeral, but I agreed to their request. The following week, the kids were baptized at the church where my daughter attended preschool. We began attending church together.

At a Christmas party in 1991, mutual friends introduced me to a lady named Kim. We connected over shared experiences and helped each other recover from our respective divorces, parent our four kids, and pursue our shared faith. Not long after, we were married.

We raised our kids in church and served in various capacities there. But neither of us had a personal relationship with God. Sure, we had both professed Jesus to be our Savior, but we didn’t know Him as Lord of our lives. To me, faith still meant obeying rules and being a good person. God had not yet changed my heart.

A second marriage is complicated, even with all the love in the world. Parenting a blended family, working dual careers, and dealing with the unfinished business of former marriages create tension that can threaten even the strongest of bonds.

We’d been married around eight years when Kim and I were invited to a retreat at our church. During the weekend, our faith suddenly became real and personal.

We finally understood that our right standing with God wasn’t dependent on our good works, service, or church attendance. It was only possible because of what Jesus had done for us (Ephesians 2:8–9). Through the Holy Spirit, God helped us discover the truth of His grace and freed us from various emotions that were preventing us from moving forward with Him.

For me, it was pride and anger. Kim found freedom from the guilt of an abortion she’d had before we met. (You can read her story on page 23.)

Not long after, we were invited to serve with Kairos Prison Ministry. The leaders asked me to share with the incarcerated what it meant to be a Christian. I told of my prodigal past and my check-the-box approach to faith. I also shared my three rollover crashes due to drinking, careful to point out how I’m not an alcoholic or anything.

A team member pulled me aside quietly and said, “Bruce, you have a problem. Even one alcohol-related crash is a huge red flag. Please don’t risk that happening again.”

God used his words to convict me and convince me to stop drinking. But it wasn’t easy. My corporate job offered copious amounts of alcohol, cigars, and strip clubs. Didn’t some of my success in my career rest on my ability to hold my own with the boys?

I remembered a boss, years earlier, pointing out a coworker and telling me he was a Christian. And I remembered that fellow didn’t drink or participate in the extracurricular activities. I determined if that man could withstand the pressure, I could at least try.

I started studying the Bible more intently. Instead of reading a short devotion, closing the book, and going on my way, I dove into the scriptures, seeking, with God’s help, their meaning.

When I read the wisdom of Ephesians 5:18, I took it to heart. It says, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (NLT). I quit drinking altogether.

I also quit going to strip clubs for work gatherings and avoided R-rated movies after reading Matthew 6:22–23. It revealed how the eye is the lamp of the body, meaning that what I gaze upon impacts my life.

Setting those new boundaries kept me in the light of God’s love and out of the darkness. I moved closer to God and further away from my old self as I aligned my life with His Word. Kim was experiencing the same growth, and our marriage soon changed for the better.

The Holy Spirit brought us both into a place of freedom. (See John 8:36; 2 Corinthians 3:17.) For example, God removed my lifelong anxiety over money as I trusted Him to supply my daily bread (Matthew 6:11).

He also freed me from my guilt as I asked for forgiveness over my part in two abortions in previous relationships. God revealed, through fasting and prayer, that those precious children are with Him. I named them to give honor and dignity to their memory.

It’s been 32 years since I confessed that car crash to Kim. Today, our marriage is stronger than ever. We are both passionate about serving the Lord and His people, as well as loving our nine grandchildren.

For the last 20 years, prison ministry has been my primary purpose, after faith and family. As the State Chair of Kairos Prison Ministry of Arizona, I am blessed to serve God’s treasured possessions behind bars and to help other people do the same.

I am no different from the people serving time for serious offenses—I just didn’t get caught. I don’t go to prison to preach; I’m there to listen and love.

One of the pillars of Kairos ministry is that Christ is counting on us. He’s the only One who can change a heart, and when He does, we owe it to Him to show our love as we serve others. We are to sacrifice for the sake of others and God (Romans 12:1). That means we put away the lust of flesh and eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:15–16). God will help us put away even the hardest of things.

With time, God even gave me a servant’s heart toward my father. I became his caregiver after he overdosed on cocaine and alcohol. He suffered from alcohol dementia and early Alzheimer’s. I realized that without God I could have ended up there as well.

I had to draw firm boundaries with Dad, and doing so taught me that grace requires truth too. With God’s help, we had several good years of sobriety together before his passing.

God’s grace is amazing. It gives us so many wonderful things we don’t deserve—eternal life and a full life on earth. God’s grace for the prodigal, the box-checker, the addict, and the saint runs deep. And He calls us to share that grace with the world.

Bruce Ketola serves as State Chair of Kairos Prison Ministry of Arizona. Bruce and his wife Kim have four children and nine grandchildren. His greatest joy and deepest prayer is for others to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Learn more at kairosofaz.org.

God Will Supply Your Need

Every week, my assistant, Carla, and I have the privilege of spending time with incarcerated men at our local detention center and encouraging them with the Word of God.

I’m always amazed at how the men shut off the TV, put away their tablets, grab their Bibles and a chair, and circle up to hear about God’s goodness when we enter the room, regardless of their faith level or religious affiliation.

We also inform those attending our study of available resources through our partners, like Hope is Alive (HIA), a national residential addiction recovery program.

One of the men we visited decided to apply to HIA and was accepted. He was excited about the opportunity but only had $250 of the $750 needed to enter the program. Carla and I prayed for Dyrique, reminding him that God provides for His children.

A few weeks later, Dyrique prayed to receive Jesus as His Lord and Savior during our weekly visit. I was elated and assured him that God would supply the remaining $500 he needed.

I based my promise on Philippians 4:19, which says, “This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (NLT). I shared other scriptures too, like Psalm 37:25, Matthew 6:25–33, and Romans 8:28.

I must admit, though, that I was secretly devising ways to help God. I didn’t want Him to look bad. Oh, me of little faith! I sensed God telling me to hold off, and I am so glad I did. The next day, God provided for Dyrique and proved to me that He didn’t need my help to prove His faithfulness.

When the jail’s program director told Dyrique that funds had been given toward his HIA program fee, he couldn’t believe it. He even admitted that he’d been about to ask her to retract his application. He hadn’t believed God would meet his needs.

His doubts were understandable because this young man lived in jail. He had no outside financial support and couldn’t make anything happen.

I’m grateful God showed up for Dyrique and that he can attend such an excellent recovery program. I’m glad that God provided the finances just before he pulled his application. Otherwise, he would’ve missed God’s provision.

I’m also glad God provided the finances before I set my plans in motion. I’ve often gotten ahead of God with good intentions.

Through this experience, God reminded me that what I preach in jails and prisons, both in person and on corrections tablets, is true. I know it in my heart, but sometimes fear leads to doubt. God’s provision for Dyrique reminded me that no one and nothing is out of reach for my Lord (Luke 1:37).

His promise to not disappoint is for everyone (Romans 10:11). God meets all of our needs (Philippians 4:19), goes above and beyond what we imagine (Ephesians 3:20), and will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).

Now, I can’t promise that He will act as quickly as He did for Dyrique or that He will always answer the way you want Him to, but I will assure you that He is always working things out for your good (Romans 8:28).

Maybe you’re having a hard time staying in faith or believing for a better future. It’s not easy, I know. I’ve been walking with the Lord for decades, and as you can see, I still doubt. And that’s not good because a person who doubts receives nothing from God (James 1:6–8). Unbelief prevents Him from working in our lives (Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:5–6).

If there was ever someone who could have doubted God, it was Abraham. The man and his wife were as old as dirt when God told them they would have a son and birth a nation through that child. But Abraham didn’t doubt.

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping, believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”

And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. (Romans 4:18–24 NLT)

As a result, Abraham experienced God’s promises. Hebrews 11:12 (NLT) says: “A whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.”

Did you hear that? A whole nation came from one man who was as good as dead!

How many miracles have we forfeited because we failed to believe God? How many God-answers were at our front door when we gave up or jumped ahead of Him? Let’s learn from Abraham (using Romans 4) to receive God’s provision, bring glory to Him, and positively impact our world.

Abraham kept hoping even when there was no reason to hope. A biblical hope isn’t wishy-washy. It’s knowing with certainty that God will make good on His promises, no matter what. It’s a hope that says, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me.”

This kind of faith comes only as we get to know Him through His Word and by stepping out in trust and obedience. Faith is like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Abraham refused to allow his circumstances to weaken his faith. He could have looked at his and Sarah’s age and said, “We’re as good as dead! There is no way we can have a child.” And in the natural, he’d have been right. But Abraham knew that God isn’t bound by the natural.

Romans 4:17 (NLT) says: “Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” Abraham focused on the power and character of God, not his circumstances, naysayers, or feelings.

Abraham didn’t waver in believing God’s promises. To believe God’s promise means you cling to it. You hold fast to it. You refuse to give up on Him, and you don’t grab hold of anything else.

I don’t know what you need today, but God does. Keep praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17), surround yourself with faith-filled people, and dive into God’s Word. In it, you will find a treasure trove of promises.

Memorize those promises and speak them over your situation. This will strengthen your faith and help you remain thoroughly convinced that God will do whatever He promised.

Friend, God’s got you! He’s got a plan (Jeremiah 29:11), and He knows exactly when to execute it. Don’t give up. He will meet your needs.

Let’s pray: God, help me be fully convinced that You will do whatever You promise. Give me the strength and courage to keep hoping when there is no reason to hope. Help me cling to Your truth and not be swayed by circumstances, the voices in my head, or my feelings. I don’t want to rush ahead—I know that will make a mess. I don’t want to give up either. I want to see Your faithfulness. Amen.

Kristi Overton Johnson encourages and equips people for victory through her writings, speaking engagements, and prison ministry. To learn more, go to kojministries.org.

Never Discarded

I awoke to a misty morning sandwiched between winter and spring. Rain visited the emerging plants, leaving droplets of water clinging to bright green leaves. Buds of new life on otherwise stark, bare trees reminded me of God’s faithfulness to revive His creation. Inside me, though, the stubborn barrenness of winter still prevailed. With a sigh, I prayed that He would revive me.

Consumed with sadness and worry, I was caught in the web of my husband’s growing drinking problem. Its sticky strands of deception and manipulation wrapped me in an immobilizing grip of fear. Still, I kept it all inside.

One day, however, at a women’s Bible study, I could hold it in no longer. I didn’t want to be that person who overshared, but I had to give voice to the storm that had long churned within me. As I finished, I expected warm, fuzzy words or at least a few awkward hugs.

Instead, a woman blurted, “Do you really think you should be working with impressionable teenagers?” Apparently, I seemed unstable and my family far too messy for the time I spent volunteering at the local high school. The woman indicated I should step down from my leadership role in the students’ devotional Bible study. I was stunned and discouraged to be considered disqualified.

Have you ever been disqualified or discarded as unfit? It hurts!

The thought of not measuring up left me frustrated and battling feelings of rejection. But then I remembered that the Lord Himself says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).

The Bible gives many examples of God using those whom the world disqualifies (1 Corinthians 1:27). I think of Rahab, who believed in God, though her life did not reflect it. Her previous failures did not exclude her from furthering God’s plan when the Israelites came to Jericho. In fact, God honored her by including her in the genealogy of Jesus (Joshua 2:1–22; Matthew 1:5). I think, too, of Peter, who denied he even knew Christ, yet later preached to multitudes who received salvation (Mark 14:66–72; Acts 2:14–41).

I am grateful that God uses individuals despite their doubts, weaknesses, past failures, and troubling circumstances—because I am one of those people.

Chaos surrounding the alcohol abuse grew worse, and I often felt shaken and alone. Occasionally, I caught myself thinking of unhealthy ways to regain a sense of belonging or simply to cope, but I clung to scripture that reminded me of who I was.

God’s Word says I am chosen (John 15:16), and He delights in me (Psalm 18:19). I am His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), and He has designed me to live abundantly in His might (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:20). I chose to believe God’s Word over my most negative thoughts and compelling feelings.

God knows how easy it is for us to mess up our lives, but that doesn’t keep Him from taking our past, present, and future sins and giving us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). He makes us right with Him through the cross.

He takes our worries, flaws, and fears as well, and exchanges them for His redeeming purposes. We may not have this purpose all figured out, but He does. That’s why staying close to Him is crucial.

In God’s strength, I continued to work with youth in various capacities. The inner strength and peace that gradually developed anchored me in a sense of worth that could never be attained on my own or given by another. I learned that my worth is not dependent on how others value me. It is constant because of what Christ has done for me.

When you know Christ as your Savior, your worth is constant too. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God still pursues you and wants to use you. Your actions have not disqualified you from His love and forgiveness. His death and resurrection long ago settled the debt incurred by your sin.

By receiving His sacrifice as your very own, you become fully pleasing and accepted by God. Then, even in the messiness, He qualifies you to share this great hope with others.

JANICE MARIE MEIDEL is a wife, mother, grandmother, and children’s book author. She has worked with Youth for Christ in mentoring teen girls. She is currently a contributing writer for various magazines and seeks to encourage others through God’s Word.