“I Had Depression and Anxiety, and I Fell Into Drugs”

Read Guadalupe's Impactful Story

I had depression and anxiety. I fell into drugs. I started consuming crystal meth, and then after a while, I fell into prostitution.

I was sexually abused at the age of six. I didn’t know what was going on. I was little. I honestly didn’t understand. I was shocked. I was scared. I was disappointed. I had all these mixed emotions.

During elementary, I was already kissing the students, trying to grab their hands, trying to have them touch me because I thought it was normal. Then, I became a teenager.

I was already in my late 19. I got pregnant, and I just became addicted. I became addicted to sex. I ended up getting anxiety and depression. I felt lonely. That led me to drinking. That led me to hate men completely. I wanted something stronger because alcohol and smoking cigarettes weren’t doing it. I started consuming crystal meth for about three years.

That led me to prostitution. I would hear voices in my head like, “You’re not worth it. Why are you even here? You’ll be better off if you kill yourself.” No one knew what I was going through.

I hit rock bottom. I got pregnant with my second kid, and the doctors told me the baby was not going to come out okay, that the baby was going to come out with Down syndrome.

My grandmother was speaking with my uncle’s mother-in-law about the situation that was going on and also within herself. She was going through a lot, and she got invited to The Universal Church. She’s like, “I’m going to give it a shot. I’m going to go ahead and check this church out and see what it’s all about.”

And she thought about me. She said, “We’re going. We’re going. This is the last shot. We went to doctors, witchcraft, and we wasted so much money. Let’s give this last opportunity a shot.” I’m never going to forget the day I entered The Universal Church. I’m never gonna forget the way I walked in. I really needed to talk to somebody, and I spoke to the pastor.

What he told me marked my life forever. He said, “The next time you walk into those doors, I don’t want to see your head down. Your head has to be held up high, looking at our God.” I didn’t care about myself. It wasn’t about me. It was about my son.

So my son then came out great. Thank God he’s blessed. He’s doing amazing. But then it was my turn because I was empty inside. I was happy that my son was good, that my son was blessed and healed, but I was unhappy within myself.

I went to church that Sunday, and I asked God for forgiveness. I prayed, “My God, You’re giving me these opportunities. You’re showing me what You’re about. You’re showing me that You’re real and that You love me. And I’m just laughing in your face.”

So that’s when I started looking for God and said, “I am done drinking. I’m done with this addiction. It’s either You show me now what You’re about with me, or just kill me because I don’t want to live this way anymore.”

After my complete spiritual deliverance and freedom from depression, addictions, and prostitution, I heard a lot about the Holy Spirit. The pastor was talking so much about the Holy Spirit during the messages. I didn’t know who the Holy Spirit was.

And I asked God, “I want to feel that. I want You in me. I want to live like these people are living, with that big smile on their faces, with that joy within. I want to feel that; I want that.”

During the Fast of Daniel, I was seeking the Holy Spirit. I found this as my opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit. It was 21 days of fasting from entertainment, no social media, and no worldly music, TV shows, or movies. So I completely blocked myself. Even at work, during my lunch break, I would read my Bible in the car.

For those 21 days, I would block myself from people because I just wanted to stay focused. I’m like, “It’s all or nothing.” So I remember one day, I was by myself in the office and just started seeking the Holy Spirit. I looked like a crazy person, but it’s okay.

And I remember exactly where I was standing. And this was two years ago. The lights were on, but my eyes were closed. And I was seeking for the Holy Spirit, and I received Him.

I forgave my dad, even though I don’t know where he’s at. But I told God, “Wherever he is, I forgive him. I truly forgive that man.” I’m not going back to that Guadalupe; no, I’m not. That person is buried.

I wish I would have met The Universal Church years ago. Aside from all these blessings that God has brought to me, the biggest of all that I carry and cherish like a treasure is receiving the Holy Spirit. Because without Him, I would be lost.

He’s Someone that you need, literally. Without Him, you’re lost. I truly, truly advise everyone to seek the Holy Spirit. If I could do it, you can do it too.

—Guadalupe