ADAM ETCHELS-

   Growing up, I always felt different...like something was missing. I felt like I was on the outside looking in... like I didn’t belong. That feeling continued throughout my life. I thought I had found the answer in drugs. I started using at a very young age of 12. By the time I was 19, I had tried just about every kind of drug. By the time I was 21, I was placed on probation for ten years.

I had always believed in God, but for some reason I just never came to Him. I always covered up the pain and fear with numbing myself, trying to find that connection I longed for through reckless behavior.

I had lived in sin my whole adult life. Then last year in November (2016), I was arrested for 2 counts of possession with the intent to deliver. I was eventually placed on drug court. When I was told to write my life story in my journal, I realized then that I had a problem... because I could barely remember my 20’s without thinking of all the times I got in trouble. That is where things started changing.

I had to go to treatment, and I remember asking God for the help to get through it. I gave it a shot. I listened, prayed, read. When I got out, I went to my first meeting. I started making new friends. Those friends got me to start going to church again. Now I’m not saying that since I’ve gotten clean my life has been peachy. I have been homeless twice this year (2017). I have been unemployed. I had to give my dog that I had for four years back to the adoption agency I got her from. I also placed myself in an unhealthy situation that had me feeling like I was worthless, not good enough, stressed and anxious. I finally had enough of it, and I prayed to God to help me and to give me a sign, and that I just wanted to be free from it. I handed the whole situation over to him.

Since then, I have felt a like a different person. I don’t have that feeling of doubt anymore. I have peace in my life today, even through the hard times. I know that things will be okay if I put God first. I’m developing normal and healthy relationships with good people who care about me and want to see me do good. I help others try to see what has worked for me. I’m Employed, I have my own place today. My clean date is January 17, 2017. 

I had tried before to quit the life I used to live, and everything that came with it, numerous times on my own... the way I was using drugs, the obsession, and compulsion to do more. This time I know it wasn’t just me stopping out of my own will. It wasn’t until I was ready to follow God that I was truly able to break free from everything holding me back.

Growing up, I always felt different...like something was missing. I felt like I was on the outside looking in... like I didn’t belong. That feeling continued throughout my life. I thought I had found the answer in drugs. I started using at a very young age of 12. By the time I was 19, I had tried just about every kind of drug. By the time I was 21, I was placed on probation for ten years.

I had always believed in God, but for some reason I just never came to Him. I always covered up the pain and fear with numbing myself, trying to find that connection I longed for through reckless behavior.

I had lived in sin my whole adult life. Then last year in November (2016), I was arrested for 2 counts of possession with the intent to deliver. I was eventually placed on drug court. When I was told to write my life story in my journal, I realized then that I had a problem... because I could barely remember my 20’s without thinking of all the times I got in trouble. That is where things started changing.

I had to go to treatment, and I remember asking God for the help to get through it. I gave it a shot. I listened, prayed, read. When I got out, I went to my first meeting. I started making new friends. Those friends got me to start going to church again. Now I’m not saying that since I’ve gotten clean my life has been peachy. I have been homeless twice this year (2017). I have been unemployed. I had to give my dog that I had for four years back to the adoption agency I got her from. I also placed myself in an unhealthy situation that had me feeling like I was worthless, not good enough, stressed and anxious. I finally had enough of it, and I prayed to God to help me and to give me a sign, and that I just wanted to be free from it. I handed the whole situation over to him.

Since then, I have felt a like a different person. I don’t have that feeling of doubt anymore. I have peace in my life today, even through the hard times. I know that things will be okay if I put God first. I’m developing normal and healthy relationships with good people who care about me and want to see me do good. I help others try to see what has worked for me. I’m Employed, I have my own place today. My clean date is January 17, 2017. 

I had tried before to quit the life I used to live, and everything that came with it, numerous times on my own... the way I was using drugs, the obsession, and compulsion to do more. This time I know it wasn’t just me stopping out of my own will. It wasn’t until I was ready to follow God that I was truly able to break free from everything holding me back.