“I Was Having Panic Attacks Every Day”

Read Rosana's Powerful Story

 
My father was an alcoholic, so my mother divorced him. Then it was always my mom and three siblings. She decided to get married again, and my stepfather was very violent, which was very traumatic to me. So I grew up hating him.

Fast forward, I tried weed and found it to be relaxing. To me, it was like an anesthesia, so that for that time being, I would forget my home drama.

I met my first husband in this environment, who is the father of my daughter. He was a Reggae musician, and I thought, “That’s great! I will be able to smoke forever now!” So we got together, and then I came to know ecstasy.

I was having panic attacks every day. In search of a solution, I was doing meditation, going to psychics, and drugs and alcohol—none of that was helping.

Then my brother said, “Are you willing to go to church with us?” I was a little resistant, but I accepted. And then I sat there at The Universal Church, and this pastor was very bold; that was one thing that really got my attention.

I was listening to the way he talked about God, an Almighty God who can do everything. It was very different, and I thought, “Ok, I want this God.”

I didn’t say anything to my brother; I just kept quiet, absorbing everything. The pastor said, “If you come for 90 days and obey what is in the Bible, if your life doesn’t change, you don’t need to come anymore.” I thought, “This is bold.” So I decided to believe in everything I read in the Bible.

The first change that happened was that I did not want to smoke anymore. The panic attacks were gone. As the Word of God was coming to me, I was being healed.

Then I was taught that I had to forgive my stepfather and also ask for forgiveness. I said, “Ask forgiveness for what? I did not do anything.” I understood then that I needed to do so because I hated him.

It was a process, but it was pretty quick. Within six months, we were already chatting. I asked my stepfather to forgive me for hating him, and he asked for my forgiveness.

I was not aware of the Holy Spirit when I first came to church. I had heard my brother talk about the Holy Spirit, but I never really paid attention before.

However, I started to have an understanding of His existence and sought Him wholeheartedly. So, I received the Holy Spirit. When that happened, all I could say was, “Forgive me” and “Thank You!”

My pleasure today is to get other people to meet my God, the One who lives inside me—Not to tell about Him, but to show Him—to do the same that the pastor did when I first came to The Universal Church.

We are blessed, and I want for nothing. Before, I wanted material things, and it was hard to get them. Now, I have no desire for them, and they come. We have cars paid off, our house; we want for nothing. My husband and I have a great relationship.

That same challenge I received, I do with you. Perhaps you have happy moments, but you are not happy. You are still empty. I challenge you to do what I did: Come to The Universal Church for at least 90 days, believe and obey what is written in the Bible, and you will see what your life is going to be. Your life is going to transform; you have no idea!

So the challenge is made.

—Rosana