Freed from Guilt

Though I can’t remember when I took my first drink, I’m sure I was really young. I do remember getting high on marijuana for the first time at the age of 13. From that point on, my behavior deteriorated.

In my early school years I was an overachiever, but by the time I was in the 8th grade, I’d begun believing I was going to hell anyway, so I just adopted a “Who cares?” attitude and determined to have as much fun on my way as I could.

I began going to clubs at 16 and went home with whomever I wanted. I ran with a group of three other girls, and we’d boast about our sexual experiences.

By the time I was 18, I was getting drunk, stoned or both nearly every day. One day I sold marijuana to a woman who was a backslidden believer. Before I met her, I had never heard of being “born again.”

We would get high together and read the book of Revelation. It was frightening to me. I would feel the deep conviction of God and overwhelming guilt, but I didn’t know how to escape.

I can remember being in the nightclubs, lonely and tired, and hearing the Lord say, “There is more for you than this, Nicole.”

One night, alone in my bedroom, I surrendered to the Lord and found new life in Him. For the first time, I experienced real peace.

I remained celibate for eight years before I met the man I married. We have three beautiful daughters now and are part of a great church. God is so good! He brought me out of a life of destruction to a place of blessing.