Introduction

Angel was looking for a way to fit in, but the drugs, drinking and partying didn't seem to offer the peace she knew was possible in life. Not knowing what she was searching for, Angel ended up in a church filled with ex-drug addicts holding Bibles and praising God. Suddenly she knew she'd found what she'd been looking for her whole life. When Angel reached out for Christian friends, she discovered the help she desperately needed to change her life.

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Angel's Change

Every time my Grandma Louise would come over, life would enter our house. She would share amazing stories about God doing amazing things. I always thought somehow she had figured out the secret to life. Each time she would leave, I sensed the feeling of peace that accompanied her leaving the house also.

Grandma Louise used to sneak me to church with her whenever I went to visit. I tried as best I could to do the things she did and follow her example, and I came to the conclusion that one day I would get it right.

In the mean time, however, if I couldn't fill my life with God, I decided to fill it with something else. I went my own way for a while and started hanging around with my brother. He sold drugs from our house when my parents where at work and he would also smoke marijuana in the shed out in the backyard.

Trying to Fit In

I desperately tried to fit in. I started experimenting with speed, chopping up pills, ditching classes at school, and flunking grades. I found myself in many dangerous situations like being in cars with people drinking and driving.

When I met my friend Marisol, I started hanging around drug dealers. They had nice sports cars, fancy clothes, and would pay for our drinks and throw big parties. When I turned 18 I met a guy who said he went to church. I told him I went to his church also. It was a lie, but it forced me to go.

I didn't know where to find Jesus, but in the midst of everything, he found me. I wasn't expecting it to happen. I showed up at church and discovered ex-drug addicts holding Bibles and praising God. At the end of the service the pastor made an invitation to receive salvation. All I could think was that I didn't know what I was doing, but this is what I'd been looking for my whole life. Suddenly I was up at the altar inviting Jesus into my life.

Asking God for Help

I was no angel immediately, but every time I went to a party or got involved in bad things, I would have the urge to leave. It just didn't seem right. I failed many times until I realized that maybe I should ask God to help me. So I prayed, "God, please take away my desire to get high. Help me stay away from these places of temptation." And he did!

One day I told my friend about my decision to follow Jesus and she said, "So, you're trying this Christian thing? Don’t worry, you'll be back again next week."

The first few years were not easy. I didn't have any good Christian friends to pray with me and encourage me. I got lonely and went out with a guy who was not helpful to my walk with Jesus. I told myself that if I could just keep going to church, things would change.

Serving God or the Devil

One day I heard a "fiery" sermon. I was so moved by God speaking to my heart that I called the guy I had been seeing and said, "I can't be with you anymore." I knew that I had to either serve God or serve the Devil.

I remember another day the pastor was preaching about friendships. He said, "He who has friends makes himself friendly." This phrase really struck me in a weird way. I thought to myself, "Okay God, meet me half way." I approached a lady at church and said, "I need to know some Christians. Will you have coffee with me?" Instead, she invited me out for pizza. Suddenly I found myself talking and spilling the beans on how I was struggling. My new friend was so loving. She told me that from then on, she and others would "be there" for me.

Drastically Changing

From this point things in my life began to change drastically. I would wake up each day and discover I was so different than the last day. If you are having a rough beginning as a Christian, just hold on. Help is on the way. You are never alone when you have Jesus.