My Testimony
Ever since a child, I have been blessed to know Jesus...
I grew up in the church with my family before they divorced when I was around 15, but it was not until 6th grade when my math teacher really sat me down and talked to me more about who He truly was. This was the year I truly gave my life to Christ. I was baptized around 13 years old at my life long church, Pinelake, in Brandon, Mississippi.
When I was around 16-18, I started to get into some things that I knew would lead me down the wrong path and things I never wanted to get into. I began to drink, I began to smoke weed and use substances, and for so long, I carried much guilt and shame.
I had two cousins when I was very young pass away within the same year. One to drinking and driving, and one to an overdose on pain pills. I never wanted to dive into anything as far as alcohol or substances, but sadly, that was not the case.
In college, I miraculously survived an 80mph car crash when I fell asleep at the wheel with my girlfriend at the time and one of my best friends at the time. I thought they were dead... but by the Grace of God, no one was seriously injured. Incredibly, we landed on my side door, and the sunroof was busted out. I went into absolute go mode and within what felt like 15 seconds, I was out of the car (4Runner, very safe) and had gotten my girlfriend out of the car. As I got out, and I'm looking for my buddy, I can vividly remember him yelling for my name. He was stuck under the vehicle. We had to have the fire department pull the entire car off of his face... literally his face. It was probably the scariest point of my life, but thankfully, Jesus saved us all.
Sadly, I did not at the time look at this like a second shot at life to spread His name. This was right around the height of when my addictions started. These addictions went on for around 10 years. Paranoia, shame, guilt, despair... I did nothing but be alone and look for satisfaction in all the wrong places.
I've dealt with a lot of death in my family. A lot of depression due to having a small family as well. I went to school where there were so many big, happy families, but I was always known as the guy that was always happy and calm minded, I never let anything get to me. Or at least that's what people thought. And do not get me wrong, I am beyond blessed to have gone to the schools I went to. I have always let things slide and never gotten mad, or at least it takes a lot to get me mad, and I really take that as a blessing of my mindset. I would see happy families and always compare it to the bad in mine, never thinking about the thankfulness I had with my family.
When I was very young, around 8, my drug abusive uncle threatened to take my life. I never really held that against him though because I was so young, but as I've gotten older and talked in groups, I think about it more now. It's a blessing I made it through that time. I am very thankful.
I am now 27, and I battled with addictions in alcohol, drugs and really anything that I could find pleasure in for a very long time. I was constantly lusting and looking for the wrong things in women. I felt so much guilt. So much shame for the better part of 10 years. For years... I knew I needed to get sober, and honestly, I always felt and knew I would get sober. It just took me a very long time to get to that point. I can't count the amount of times I went back on my word to not only myself, but to Jesus. It is important to note that through this whole time of my addictions, I was praying to Jesus. This really caused me even more guilt.
It took a lot of shameful and very regretful nights to end up where I did. I got to the point of thinking my days were truly numbered and began to worry about my health a lot.
I am proud to say now that I am 97 days fully sober (as of 11/28/2024) and I now know that guilt and shame I was feeling for so long was the Holy Spirit telling me I didn't need those things. For a long time, I thought God was mad at me. I know now that He was just waiting for me to come back home. It's like the photo of Jesus knocking at the door. He was always knocking, but He wasn't going to open the door for me, He was waiting on me to come home.
I have started this brand because I want everyone to know that Forgiveness that comes from Jesus. He is not angry at you. He will always love you, and He just wants to have a relationship with you. Nothing too deep, or too messed up will ever be too much for God to handle. I could go on and on about the things in my life, and who knows? Hopefully someday I will be able to have a live call with all of you who have been to the website and share my full testimony with you all.
Without making this too long, the Love of Jesus is unmatched. I am incredibly blessed with how patient and how forgiving Jesus was/is too me, and I want you all to know He can do the same for you.
God Bless you all. If you would ever like to talk, and happen to read this... reach out to me @YoMcNeely on IG. I would love to talk.
By the way, I want to share my favorite Bible verse: 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV "For God has not given us a Spirit of Fear, but of Power, and of Love, and of a Sound Mind."