{"id":2688,"date":"2025-07-21T10:19:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T14:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/?p=2688"},"modified":"2025-07-21T10:19:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T14:19:57","slug":"from-darkness-to-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/from-darkness-to-light\/","title":{"rendered":"From Darkness to Light"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Philippe Testimony<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Broken Start<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I was born into a broken home. My parents divorced when I was young, and I couldn\u2019t see my father like I wanted to. He wasn\u2019t around as much as he needed to be. My mom struggled with depression and anger, and I felt the weight of that growing up. At school, things were no better \u2014 I was bullied, and my grades were terrible. Life felt unstable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later on, my mom became a Christian, and we started going to church. That\u2019s when I first heard stories about God. I wasn\u2019t religious \u2014 I just liked the stories. But looking back, I think a seed was planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also had strange spiritual experiences when I was young. One night, my siblings and I all woke up terrified. My sister saw a spirit \u2014 and I started seeing things too. Shadows. Figures. It never left me. I became sensitive to the spiritual realm in a way that was real and terrifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spiral<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a teenager, I moved in with my father. My grades got better at first \u2014 but I quickly fell into another trap. I became popular, started partying, using drugs and alcohol, and eventually dropped out of school. I hung out with the wrong crowd, got involved in crime, and built up a lot of anger. It was like a bubble had burst, and I suddenly realized how hurt I was by everything that had happened to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had no purpose. I wanted revenge. And so I turned to the occult. I invited spirits into my life because I believed they could give me power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 18, I was living in a small apartment with a friend. We were deep into drugs \u2014 especially hallucinogens \u2014 and spiritual practices. He was into New Age meditation. I was into darker things. Demons. Shadows. I wanted to hurt people the way I had been hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then one day, everything changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Encounter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My friend\u2019s Christian parents sent someone to check on him. This man came to take him for coffee, but when he walked into our dark, heavy apartment, he felt led to stay. He started talking about Jesus \u2014 and something strange happened. When he asked me a simple question, my mind shut down. I couldn\u2019t speak. I couldn\u2019t even understand what he was saying. It was like something took over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then he said, \u201cIn the name of Jesus.\u201d And instantly \u2014 I was free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I challenged him. I said, \u201cIf your God is real, prove it to me. If it\u2019s legit \u2014 if there\u2019s no room for doubt \u2014 I\u2019ll follow Him for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t argue. He simply prayed for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were four of us sitting on the floor, no furniture. As he laid hands on us, I bowed my head. My eyes closed. And suddenly I saw something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a distance, a light came \u2014 so far away but so powerful. It flooded everything. It went through me. Nothing could stop it. And right there, on that floor, my heart broke. I cried like I had never cried before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew it was Jesus.
I knew He was real.
I didn\u2019t understand everything \u2014 not sin, not heaven, not hell \u2014 but I knew I needed to be clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moment changed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Battle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My roommate and I got rid of everything \u2014 the drugs, the video games, the music. We started going to church all the time. But the battle didn\u2019t end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those dark spirits didn\u2019t leave right away. We were under attack. We\u2019d see them, feel them, hear growling and knocking. Sleep paralysis. Fear. We slept with lights on, worship music playing, sometimes even in the same bed just to feel safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we felt like no one in church understood. We were told to \u201crenew our minds,\u201d but what we were facing was physical<\/em>. And while I was reading my Bible daily \u2014 finishing the whole thing in a short time \u2014 I saw miracles in the Word, but not in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was also still bound in secret sin. Pornography. Weed. Cigarettes. Anger.
I hated it.
I blamed God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember saying, \u201cYou say I should be free \u2014 but I\u2019m not. So it\u2019s Your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years passed. I drifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wake-Up Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, I lived alone. I still believed in Jesus, but I was far from Him. I worked nights, smoked weed, played video games. But I also talked about God with my rough neighbors. I even did Christian rap. There was always this pull in me \u2014 a desire for purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I met my wife. She came from a Buddhist background. We started a life together, and we both got good jobs. We moved to New Brunswick, bought a house, and had everything we thought we wanted. But inside, I still felt empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day, I was driving, and I seriously considered ending my life. I was going to crash my car into a tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s when I heard God speak \u2014 for the first time clearly.
He said, \u201cRemember the promise you made Me \u2014 that you would follow Me if I revealed Myself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I broke down.
I had forgotten.
But He hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Real Gospel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I started going back to church. I mowed the lawn. I brought my wife and her son every Sunday. I tried to earn my way back in, to show God I was serious. But deep down, I still felt like a hypocrite. I was still smoking, still watching porn, still playing hours of video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then one day, I saw a video.
It showed people getting truly set free \u2014 from addiction, from sin, from bondage. And it stirred something in me. I wanted that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I learned that I had never truly been born again. I had repented \u2014 yes \u2014 but I had never been baptized. And in the Bible, baptism wasn\u2019t just a symbol. It was a burial. A cleansing. A spiritual transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew that was what I needed. I wanted to die to my old life \u2014 for real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Baptism<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I prayed that God would make a way. The man from the video lived far away, and I had no way to get there. But one day, I saw online that their team was coming to my small town. It was a miracle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even before they arrived, my pastor announced a baptism at the beach. I didn\u2019t want to wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I told him my story, and he agreed. The day came. The water was freezing. But when I went down and came back up \u2014 I felt warm<\/em>. I felt light<\/em>. It was like a hundred pounds were lifted off me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And from that day on \u2014 I was free<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No more pornography.
No more weed.
No more video games.
No more chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I understood what Paul meant by being set free from sin. I\u2019m not perfect, but I\u2019m no longer a slave<\/em>. I live differently now \u2014 not out of fear, but out of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I Wish I Knew<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If I could go back, I would tell my younger self:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • You need the hear the full gospel<\/strong> \u2014 and the response to it (Acts 2:38)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • You need discipleship<\/strong> \u2014 someone to walk with you, not just preach at you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • You need to know that the church isn\u2019t a stage<\/strong> \u2014 it\u2019s a family. And every member has a purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    I needed someone to see my calling \u2014 and help me walk in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A New Life<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    That was nine years ago. Since then, my wife and I have walked through many trials. God has shaped our character, taught us how to love, how to forgive, how to build a family. We have three children now. We hear His voice. We walk with Him. We want to help others find the hope we found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Today, I know I am loved. I know I am a child of God. I know I have a purpose.
    I\u2019m an ambassador of the Most High.
    And I\u2019m called to go and bring this message to others \u2014 that Jesus sets people free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To finish the race…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He\u2019s coming back.
    And He will judge and restore everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For You<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re stuck in sin\u2026
    If you feel like a failure\u2026
    If you want to be free\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s hope<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But it will cost you. Jesus didn\u2019t die so we could live halfway. The gospel is not free. It will cost you your life<\/em>. But it\u2019s the best trade you\u2019ll ever make \u2014 because this King wants to be your Father. He wants to love you, raise you, walk with you, and set you free<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You\u2019ll cry. You\u2019ll fight.
    But you\u2019ll never<\/em> be alone again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Scripture That Anchors Me<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cIf anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.\u201d<\/strong>
    \u2014 2 Corinthians 5:17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cFor we are God\u2019s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.\u201d<\/strong>
    \u2014 Ephesians 2:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Story\u2019s Not Over<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019m still learning.
    Still growing.
    Still walking by faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But now I walk in freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you want to know more, or you need someone to talk to \u2014 feel free to reach out or click [here].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Thank you for reading.
    Thank you for listening.
    And may Jesus meet you the same way He met me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Philippe Testimony A Broken Start I was born into a broken home. My parents divorced when I was young, and I couldn\u2019t see my father like I wanted to. He wasn\u2019t around as much as he needed to be. My mom struggled with depression and anger, and I felt the weight of that growing up. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[17,20,23,24],"class_list":["post-2688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-thoughts","tag-faith","tag-family","tag-jesus-christ","tag-trust"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2688"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2690,"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2688\/revisions\/2690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyjourneywithgod.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}