You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
One fateful night my life changed forever. In the early morning hours, I was standing in the front room of our clubhouse, and with one flick of a light switch, the light illuminated me. I became the perfect target for the rival biker gang looking for paybacks. Standing outside the front windows of the clubhouse, three men opened fire with M-16 rifles.
The impact of the bullets shattered the bones in my left forearm and my right thigh. The pain and suffering from my wounds were the beginning of a long physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery. There was no escape from the pain and suffering or the uncertainty of my future. My spirit was crushed. Shame, fear, and anger consumed me. I wanted to be free from the violence and the injustices I 
witnessed. I just did not know how to escape. But God did.
Meeting the God of Hope – After returning home to continue my therapy, a former friend invited me to a baptism service at her church. I agreed to go because of the change I saw in her. It was after the service that I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. My hope for a better life began with trusting God.
[bctt tweet=”My spirit was crushed. Shame, fear, and anger consumed me. I wanted to be free from the violence and the injustices I witnessed. I just did not know how to escape. But God did.” via=”no”]
For me, the choice of leaving gang life was the first step towards a restored life. Whatever life brings your way, God gives you a choice: to stumble in discontentment and yearn for the former things or take Paul’s advice:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
From the moment I dedicated my life to Jesus, I surrendered my sorrow, my guilt, and my shame. I’m so glad Jesus meets us where we are. He didn’t ask me to change before I came to Him. All He wanted was for me to trust Him with my life. And I was ready to step out in faith.
