Anxiety, Self-hatred, Anger, Depression, Suicidal Thoughts and More--Suddenly Washed Away!

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"I could not take one more day on this planet. It was torture."

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My nephew Connor was only 10 years old when another child introduced him to pornographic material. His innocence and faith in God were immediately snatched away with the power of what blasted into his young mind. It's important for parents and other caregivers to know just how prevalent and how terribly destructive this perverted material is. It seems most parents these days are aware that the internet is a minefield of pornographic images ready to explode into a child's life at any moment even though precautions are taken and attempts are made to set up barriers. Unfortunately, a loving parent can't be everywhere at once, and even a child down the street or the naive friend at school could open the door, unaware of the destruction that will result.

Here is Connor's testimony shared at the time of his baptism in the summer of 2024:

“I was born into a loving Christian household with parents who taught me many great lessons about life and other things.  I lost my faith when I was about 10 years old when I was exposed to evil internet content that really messed me up and led me down a very dark path of addiction and self-hatred.  To ease the pain of not knowing who I truly was, I used drugs and alcohol to numb myself to the point of not being able to remember anything. That’s why if you were to ask me about my high school experience, I wouldn’t be able to tell you much because I was high all day every day for about 5 and ½ years.  I waded through life...trying not to sink into the depths. Even though I had everyone around me, I didn’t feel like anyone was with me, like nobody had my back if I needed them.  So, I became emotionally numb..."

After high school I began working full time.  Eventually, I met a woman, and we started dating.  We both weren’t very emotionally mature, so we weren’t the best to each other, but we tried. Things happened; then we lost a child, which caused me to sink deeper than I ever had. I didn’t want to be alive."

At about 21 years old, Connor broke off the relationship and moved to beautiful Victoria, hoping that a fresh start would heal him and make him feel better, but he couldn't escape the pain of a life driven by addictions.

He explained to me that it was about a year later, in a rented room in Victoria, alone in his misery, where his baptism testimony continues.

"I could not take another day on this planet. It was torture. If it weren’t for the Holy Spirit, who asked me every day for months to 'give [Him] just one more day,' I would have done the irreversible and none of you would have ever met me.  It was Good Friday when I finally asked Christ Jesus for help, and what I experienced can only be described as ‘the Peace that transcends all human comprehension’, because all the anger, self-hatred, vitriol, anxiety, want for revenge, disdain and depression, and much more was washed away almost instantly.  Although I have been through the worst things that a man could ever imagine happening, it all led me right back to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and my personal favorite, the Living Water, for when I drank of it, I was healed. “

In a later conversation, Connor searched for the right words to describe the sensations of the moment when the tormenting pressure, the cobra-like hold was drawn off of him....like an invisible force that lost its grip, it immediately withdrew, and seemed to disappear into the floor beneath his bed. This may sound strange and difficult to believe, but many people (including myself!) have had similar (but different!) physical and emotional experiences when an oppressive spirit was forced to let go and remove itself while the victim called on the Name of Jesus.

Connor explained that demonic presences for so long had him convinced that Jesus couldn't or wouldn't help him, that the NAME of JESUS didn't have the power that the scriptures say it does. But in his wrestling and tormented isolation, with just a tiny spark of faith, he gave God the one moment He needed to break the chains off of his mind and emotions. It happened on Good Friday, and two days later, Easter Sunday, he found a church where he was immediately accepted and loved. His new pastor tells listeners that within about 4 minutes, they were embracing, hugging because he was so moved by Connor's testimony.  And they sincerely give all the glory to God.

Following the healing of his mind and emotions, Connor, now 23 years old, still has life work to do, and he continues to seek freedom from addictive tendencies. Who can't relate to that?? Thankfully, each new step of freedom will be timed perfectly by our Heavenly Father, and the beauty that results will be another strike against the "enemy of our souls". Oh, sweet victory! I have to say it, "Praise the Lord!"