[guestpost]Today’s Testimony Tuesday guest is Jerre Clark. She is a dear friend and holds a special place in my heart. Let her words remind you that it’s never too late.[/guestpost][featured-image single_newwindow=”false”]Hello, my name is Jerre Clark. I am 49 years old and I am from Oxford, Alabama. I was raised in church, and lived a very sheltered childhood. At 18, I moved out. It was then, I began to see what I had missed out on. Or so I thought.
I married and divorced. Somewhere along the way, I had become very selfish and was ready for life to be all about me. It was then that life became very social. I began social drinking which lead to dabbling in drugs, but I came back to drinking. After all, it was socially acceptable. Then my drinking increased until it became an everyday thing. Before I knew it, it had a stronghold on me that would last for years.
I never realized that I was searching for something. That something was a someone, and not a something. It was Jesus.
During this time, I made a lot of mistakes, I hurt everyone I loved and I became so depressed that I hated to see morning. I hated life, I hated myself, and I had absolutely no hope.
Then I lost someone that was very close to me to cancer. And at this point, I was so despondent, I no longer wanted to live. I took 35 very strong pain killers along with a huge amount of alcohol and prayed for God to forgive me. Death eluded me. During the incredible sickness that followed, I very distinctly remember God telling me “You will go when I am ready for you to go, not when you are. I am not finished with you yet.”
At this point, I cried out to God for help and asked him to do with me what he will. Now, that did not stop me from trying to run for three more months. Again, I ended up in the hospital from seizures.
I knew that I had to get my life straight, but could not until I got myself straightened out. I turned again to God, and asked him to lead me where I needed to go. For some reason, I asked a friend from this area where I should go, and he gave me the number to The Haven of Hope amongst several other numbers. When I called there, I just knew.
I had heard Jeremiah 29:11 before about a hope and a future. But this time I went further. Verses 12 and 13 read “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you says the Lord.”
This jumped out at me and grabbed me. It was a promise that He was still there for me. Then I heard teachers over and over tell of the different people God used in the Bible. Some of the people that did the greatest work were the biggest messes! This amazed me.
From here, I decided that I had to give back. I had to spread the news to others like me that there was still hope. Psalm 51:12-13 reads “Restore me to the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach transgressors and they will return to you.”
Through the Haven of Hope, I not only found my way back to God, but I found my calling to help others. Soon, we are opening a new campus. I will be one of the house mothers there. I am so blessed to be a part of a ministry so anointed and that I love so much.
If I could just get one point across to you today, it would be that it is never too late.
[shareable cite=”Jerre Clark”]You are never too far gone for God.[/shareable]
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