Praise the Lord!

I grew up always knowing my father as a Christian, gentle and loving. I was the youngest child with two older brothers and was a daddy’s girl.

On the other hand, I grew up knowing my mother as mean, critical and emotionally unpredictable. Though some days were great with her, I would eventually come to hate her. As an example, on her birthday, she wouldn’t get out of bed so my dad had us all bring birthday presents to her. I was devastated when she slapped the gift out of my hand. It was the first of many episodes of her hateful actions. I was only four years old. 

Fast forward after years of living on an emotional roller coaster, I married my high school sweetheart. We turned our lives over to Jesus going all in for ministry, asking God to use us to “do something for God.” All seemed well.

However, one day I became severely depressed and tormented out of the blue. I shut the door of my bedroom and isolated myself, as I was overtaken by what I thought must be demonic. I sat in heaviness, feeling helpless and deeply oppressed, I turned on the radio in desperate need of worship only to hear a song begin, "He can work through those who praise Him, praise the Lord. “I knew the power in worship but could not physically even lift my hands. What I heard in my mind next changed everything. It was "If you don't let me deliver you now, you will be like your mother the rest of your life." 

I didn’t realize the eternal impact of what was happening. It was a spiritual as well as physical fight to get my hands up in worship, but when I did, I began to weep with such intensity I could hardly breathe. In that moment of surrender, Jesus met me and totally set me free. It was nothing less than supernatural. God gave me His love and forgiveness for my mom. I was forever changed and able to love and honor her with His love for the rest of her life. 

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

Susan Jackson

Harlingen, TX