My parents were divorced when I was very young and my mother got remarried to an extremely violent and abusive man who would beat me and my mother regularly. I remember one night trying to perform CPR on her unconscious body, as she lay in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor, I was about 6 years old. My mom ensured that I attended youth and church weekly. I tried to live a Godly life but always on my terms.

I became an extremely violent adolescent. I got into many fights and physical altercations. And being a lot bigger than the other kids my age, I hurt many of them. I was about 16 when my stepdad and I got into a serious fight. It was the first time I stood up to him and it felt great. A few arrests, and a number of assault charges, I was heading nowhere fast.

I resented my mom, my stepfather and family members for not doing anything about the constant abuse. And I was so angry at God for allowing all this to happen.

Then, God spoke to me as clear as day. He told me that I needed to forgive my stepdad and my mother for EVERYTHING that had happened.

I came face to face with my ex-stepfather in a supermarket. I thought if I knock him out could I leave without anyone seeing me? He then did the unbelievable, he put his arms around me and sobbed asking me to forgive him. I felt the heaviest load removed off my shoulders. I felt free at last. After that, I restored my relationship with my mom and many others.

Romans 5:3-5

‘Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.’