Jennifer Rooted in Love, Anchored in Hope, Part 1

Pulling her car over to the side of the road, Jennifer buried her face in the steering wheel and began sobbing. She hated her life and her work as an exotic dancer. Jennifer cried out to God to be delivered, and He answered her prayer.

Jennifer grew up in a broken home ravaged by alcoholism. She spent years enduring abuse and shame as she moved in and out of foster care. “I grew up with so much hostility in me,” she says today. “I didn’t understand why I had so much pain inside, why I had to go through what I did. I grew up without an identity. I tried hard to find my purpose in life, but I just couldn’t ever make sense of the world.”

Her mom regained custody when Jennifer was seven years old, and they eventually began attending a Sabbath-keeping church. But Jennifer never developed a personal relationship with Jesus. Inside she felt rebellious, selfish, depressed, and damaged.

At age 18, Jennifer had her first child. To support herself and her son, she began working as an exotic dancer. She hoped it would be a temporary job, but it stretched into years. “My life was filled with one bad decision after another,” she says.

Seeking to fill the painful void in her heart, Jennifer also explored New Age spirituality and occult practices. “I hated life,” Jennifer admits. “I would do anything to try to attain happiness.” And she did just about anything. But all the happiness she found was short lived and left her feeling worse than before.

Meanwhile, Jennifer’s mother continually interceded in prayer for her. She also sent Jennifer videos and articles from Amazing Facts. Jennifer decided to give them a try because she was bored and found this as a way to pass time. But she didn’t expect what happened next.

It was the first time ever that Jennifer actually felt hope in her heart for a better life. Even though she was still working as an exotic dancer, she felt God gently convicting her heart through the Bible truths.

Reflect: Have you ever felt utterly broken inside? If you, or someone you know, feel desperately in need of help, God promises to hear and answer every sincere prayer.

Key Bible Texts

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. (2 Samuel 22:7 KJV)