God Saved Me from my Darkest Way

Hello, I am Chauncey, 24-year-old, From Philippines. And this is my testimony of how “God saved me from my darkest way.”

When I was in elementary school, I was a very innocent child who was incredibly active. I always participated in school activities, earned top honors, and hated missing out on anything. So, when I was in 7th grade (High School) I’m the class President in our Class Room and I still make it to the top honors list. I also love joining school activities,

So, when I reached Grade 9, I changed because I surrounded myself with friends who turned out to be bad influences. I’ve been joining gangs, I know how to drink alcoholic drinks, smoking I entered into a relationship at a young age. But it wasn’t the worst of it. I met a drug pusher who became my friend, and that’s when I learned how to take drugs and sell drugs, even my boyfriend and I both take drugs. Partying always, until I don’t recognize my family anymore, I’m taking revenge on them even if I’m wrong, even if it’s my brother. I’m planning to beat up someone I know, sometimes I go out at 1 A.M to get drugs from someone I know, because of the drugs, I’ve been panting because of the money until I thought of selling my body to old men for money so that I can buy what I want.

My Mom said: Chauncey What happened to you? are not like that before! Even my Grandma was crying in front of me. That’s why I considered running away and living with a man I just met. If I were to live with friends, I’d probably never go back to my family. After four months, my parents and the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) tracked me down and asked where I was staying. They wanted me to come home. My mother saw me and she is crying and hugged me.

In December 2019, I was also an online seller. I had a customer who wanted to buy my waterproof camera to mount on his helmet. At that time, I was in a three-year relationship. However, things were bad because we constantly argued due to his behavior. He was physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive, Okay, let’s go back to the guy who bought the camera. After he picked up his order, he asked for my number so we could meet up. A few hours later, we got to know each other. We shook hands, and I was surprised when he held on for a long time and kept staring at me.

This was his first conversation:

“Hi, I’m Jenes,” he said. “I’m 25 years old, and I’m actually studying Theology. I’m hoping to become a pastor. I went to school in Davao, but I had to stop due to COVID. Now I’m working here in Go**** Va****. You’re beautiful.”

Of course, I blushed.
After he left, I thought everything was okay. But he kept texting and calling me. That’s how we became friends. Jenes was the only one who was there for me when I was arguing with my boyfriend. He always helped me deal with the pain in my heart. After a few days, Jenes texted me.

“Chauncey, why do you only see me as a friend?” he wrote. “You only come to me when you’re fighting with your boyfriend.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I replied.

“I like you, Chauncey,” he said. “I’d rather die than leave the country.”

That’s when I realized that he had feelings for me.

Fast forward:…
On January 8, 2020, I cheated on my boyfriend with Jenes. I saw the happiness and love in his eyes that I couldn’t find with my boyfriend. Eventually, my boyfriend caught me cheating and made me choose between them. I chose Jenes. Later on, my boyfriend became angry with Jenes. So, after that My boyfriend said hurtful things to me, he said “My new boyfriend gonna cheat me someday, because he just wanted to have S*x with me, And He said that I will get karma someday”, after that I broke up my boyfriend and stayed with my new Boyfriend “Jenes”.

Fast forward:…
…until something happened with Jenes and me. After 2 months, I didn’t know that I was pregnant. So, for me I’m not ready to get pregnant and I am planning to abort the baby, I’m drinking Herbal so that the fetus will actually come out, but it didn’t come out and nothing happened with the herbal I was taking. After 4 days, I felt like God was punishing me. I got very sick and couldn’t eat for 1 week and half because I was vomiting. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go to the hospital because they were worried about me getting COVID-19. I bought medicines to try to cure my illnesses, but then my water pipe burst. The fetus came out because of the medications I was taking.

Fast forward:…
When I was ready to have another child, I got pregnant again. After our second baby was born, we planned to get married. I thought everything would be okay and I’d be happy to be married. But I had a major problem with my father: my parents have a different religion, and Jenes is a Baptist. While my mother and grandmother are very supportive to my marriage, my father opposed it because he didn’t want me to marry a Baptist. My father wants us to get married only within our religion because, according to their beliefs, and he said I should marry the man with our same religion. My father was very angry, and he even told my mother that he’s praying in the church, he hopes that our marriage won’t happen. and even my father’s sister has been saying hurtful things, and she said I will be getting karma and won’t receive God’s blessings.”

Fast forward:…
On my wedding day, as I walked down the aisle, I couldn’t stop crying. It wasn’t because I was getting married; it was because my father wasn’t there on my wedding day. I was very angry and hurt because of my father and I am thinking that someday I will revenge to my father.

1 month later, my father faced a series of challenges or many trials. First, he had a motorcycle accident. Second, he was fired from his job. To top it off, they were struggling to make ends meet. My mother and brother were also suffering. There were days they could only afford to eat pandesal, and my mother even had to ask my grandmother for food to help them get by.

For two years, my father didn’t pay attention to me. I saw how much my parents were struggling. Eventually, I helped my mother start a business. After a few months, my father began talking to me again. A year later, he was able to apply for a job at the capitol. He was so happy when he got the job, and we were finally able to bond again.

And I gradually changed myself and started recognizing God. I built a relationship with him and put my faith in him. God saved me from my darkest days. Back when I had many vices, I would always go to parties. But I prayed to God, and he saved me from the path I was on and changed my life.

Because of God’s Word in the Bible, I realized my Bad past was changed because of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”.

And the verse I read about Revenge made me cry so much. Romans 12:19 NIV says,

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord”.

Even though I couldn’t take revenge on my father, I saw how God was dealing with him. I prayed to God, asking him to ensure that my father’s punishment was just, even though I hadn’t heard that he apologized to both my husband and me. But I forgave him from the bottom of my heart. I believe God answered my prayer because he blessed my father by giving him a job again, and he also blessed me and my Husband.

After That I Repented to God, and joined fellowship/worships, and also have Bible reading.

Thank you God for Change my life, Thank you for your Goodness and Love. I love you Lord. In Jesus name Amen.