Road To Redemption
Road To Redemption
Bree Montgomery - From Despair To Hope and Purpose
John Martin and Valerie Peterson visit with Bree Montgomery sharing her Road to Redemption.
When the numbing stopped working, Bree didn’t find a clever hack—she cried out to God and watched doors open: detox, Path of Grace, a new community, and a daily rhythm that rebuilt what addiction had stolen. We visit with her through the early trauma that bred fear and isolation, the long slide from teenage escapes into a 26-year dependence on pills, and the brutal honesty of admitting she didn’t know how to be a mom. Then we trace the hard, hopeful climb that began at fifty: showing up, making amends, learning a work ethic one small choice at a time, and letting Scripture turn guilt and shame into a foundation that could hold in real life.
Bree also shares how a job at Sandestin Resort became a calling. She started as a housekeeping dispatcher who couldn’t turn on a computer, leaned on patient mentors, earned promotions, and then opened doors for Path of Grace graduates to build careers. That pipeline didn’t just change résumés; it changed futures—integrity recognized, pasts redeemed, women thriving in roles across the resort. Along the way we talk practical recovery tools: a nightly inventory, a no‑nonsense sponsor, telling the whole truth to one trusted person, and the simple force of doing the next right thing when grief and setbacks hit hard.
If you’re feeling too old, too far gone, or too ashamed to start, this conversation brings a steady message: hope is an anchor, and help is a step away. We invite you to listen with an open heart, share it with someone who needs courage today, and join us on the Road to Redemption. Subscribe, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us: what’s your next right step?
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Welcome to Road to Redemption, a show sharing powerful life testimonies, giving hope to those on their own Road to Redemption.
SPEAKER_00:Well, welcome. I'm John Martin. So excited to be here today with Valerie Peterson, co-host, and our guest, Brie Montgomery.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you for having me. We are thrilled that you're here today. John and I, I got John, I gotta just say, how long have I told you about her and said we need to have her on? And so today is the day.
SPEAKER_00:It is. So excited to have you, Bri. Start off, tell us a little bit about you. What what are you doing today?
SPEAKER_02:Okay, I am an area manager at Sandstone, Golf and Beach Resort. I also work at Path of Grace every Saturday. Um, I've been doing that for almost seven years now. Awesome. And that's my favorite. That's my favorite part of it is the Path of Grace Girls every Saturday. It's very rewarding.
SPEAKER_01:Can you start and share with us about your testimony when you were a little girl? What was life like, and we'll go from there?
SPEAKER_02:Um, I um had two brothers, a sister, my mom, and um stepdad. And I had some very traumatic, ongoing things happen when I was a child. And so I would say when I was about 15 I started, you know, dating boys or going out and drinking a little bit and smoking a little pot. And it was it was um I liked it because I felt like I had escaped a little bit there because when these traumatic things were happening to me, fear automatically immediately set in. I was I was fearful of everything and everyone. I had no trust. I I trusted no one. Um and so when I I would put something in my body, I would like feel free and feel I don't I don't know. I just escaped my feelings. Um and then um I had a bad tooth and I got prescribed some pain medicine. And I can remember the day that I took my very first pain pill and the feeling, and I was absolutely it it was uh downhill, it was downhill from there because it it was just a lot of years of of losing myself and losing everything and everyone I loved. Like isolating myself, I I isolated from everyone. Um, and this went on for like 26 years. I was in addiction for 26 years, so do you have children? I do. Can you talk about it yes? I have three daughters. Um there two of them I had with um my husband. Um he he ended up getting them and and raising them because I couldn't do it. Um then in the middle of that divorce, I got pregnant with my daughter Megan, and her dad ended up raising her. So I didn't raise them. I would go and tell them I was coming to see them, tell them I was coming to pick them up, but and wouldn't show up. I um I didn't know how to be a mom. I just thought you gave them things. That's you know, buy them things, give them things. But that isn't what they wanted from me. They they wanted a mom, someone that was there for them at all times, and I just couldn't do it. I didn't know how to do it. I didn't know how to be a mom. I didn't know how to stay sober. And I used to look at people and say, how do they go to work every day and, you know, raise their kids and have this beautiful, happy life? How do they do in this without drinking and taking pills every day? I don't understand. It was it was um it was really bad. And then I got to the point to where I wanted to, I didn't know how to, you know, and it got really, really, really dark. And I remember crying out to God. I cried out because it had gotten to the point to where it wasn't killing the pain anymore, it wasn't doing anything. I was just in this misery of a hole that I had dug for myself and I didn't know how to get out. But I would say that me crying out to God, and I remember where I was and at the moment, it led like he opened doors. He opened doors that ended up. I went to Detox in a place I've never been. I think it was in Boniface. It was way down the interstate, nothing but woods, and I was like, where am I going? That lady knew Brandy from Path of Grace. She called her, she called me, then Eddie called me, and um I was in Path of Grace a week later.
SPEAKER_01:So you know, listening, and Sean, I don't know, we've talked about it before. Sometimes our darkest moment becomes our brightest. When we get to that point, and that's where you got to surrender. Yeah. You know, something that you've said to me you're never too old to get help. How old were you when you got help?
SPEAKER_02:I was fifty years old. Fifty. And I when I got to the path of grace, I I was so broken, and I didn't know who I was, and I didn't know what I was gonna do or where I was gonna go or how I was gonna do it. I never could keep a job, you know. Um, I had no work ethic. I I knew I I knew nothing. Um and I was 50, and I kept saying that to myself. Well, you're 50, like your whole life's over. The kids are almost grown, like, you know, and um so what I did was, and also none of my family would speak to me because I had pushed everyone away. Like they had to love me from a distance. So I would walk around the path of grace and I would just talk to God. I would say, God, here we are. You're all I got. It's just me and you. You have to show me the way. And so I just did what I was supposed to do. I followed the rules, I did the next right thing, the next right thing, and Eddie saw something in me I didn't see in myself. Brandy saw something in me, and they put me in leadership. And it just went from there, and I just kept doing the right thing, and it has gotten me a long way. And I still do. I do the right thing. So um I thank God for putting Eddie and Brandy and Tiffany at the time and some other people in my life because I didn't know how to do it. I just didn't. So I just anyway, it went from there. It was a beautiful time at the Path of Grace. There was a lot of healing. Um, I learned work ethic. I learned that we work. And we were. It doesn't matter if you're having a bad day, we go to work. Um, I just learned um love, compassion. Um just God just showed me, showed me that He loved me.
SPEAKER_01:And so You know, I I know there's listeners today that are where you were, and they uh maybe struggling with severe like isolation and and just withdrawing from people. What would you say to them today?
SPEAKER_02:I would say that know that God will hear you cry, God hears our cries, and I also would say that a lot of people love you. Um and it it comes down to you, you making us taking a step forward and trying to learn to forgive yourself and that God will open doors. He will, he hears you. I promise you, he will hear you in your deepest, deepest despair. He set my he set my feet on a rock. Um, and all I did was cry out to him. That's all I did, and he opened every door that has ever opened for me since that day.
SPEAKER_01:So John always talks about the importance of accountability. And you know that. I want to hear you. Can you share with our listeners?
SPEAKER_02:My um, so I have a sponsor that I've had since I got to the Path of Grace, um, and she's a no-nonsense lady. Um, she she keeps me accountable um because sometimes I don't want to see my part in things. And and we all have a part in in our choices and things that happen. And so I will call her and she'll say, Do you, do you, are you asking me for my opinion? And I'm like, Yes, ma'am. And so she kind of, you know, A B C D, and then we get back to A. And I'm like, okay, yes, ma'am, I got this, I got this, but I have to keep myself accountable. I also I also review my night every night. Did I treat people like Jesus would? Did I hurt anyone's feelings? Do I owe anyone an amends? And if I do, if I if I can't go to sleep because I can't, if I've done something because I'm not perfect, that very next day I'm on the phone or I'm in I'm in that person's face saying, Listen, I was wrong and I'm sorry, you know. I I I take accountability, which is just as important. It's very important that I take accountability for my choices, my actions, and everything I do today. So it means a lot to me.
SPEAKER_01:You really have had an amazing mentor, and um, you've gone shoulder to shoulder with her, and we all need someone to be accountable to.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, Brie, talk to us a little bit about how how did you come to know Jesus? Um, and and also I know some listeners may be struggling with um addictions and things and want to get help, but they may not know Jesus, and they're like, hey, you know, talk talk to just a little bit about that.
SPEAKER_02:So um I um so mom raised us in church and things like that. I never had a relationship. I didn't understand it, to be honest with you. I didn't understand the Bible, I didn't understand any of that. But when I got to the path of grace, I um would use, like I said, I was very broken. I was still so broken. I would use my days off and I would just sit and read the Bible. And I remember reading um Luke 1, 2, um, and then I would read a lot of Psalms, but I would just start reading the Bible and I would pray. And as I'm reading it and I'm praying, God is bringing to life this Bible for me. Like things that had happened to me, and I believe He started working on me to try to forgive myself for the things that I had done. It was hard for me because of the things I had done to my children. You know, not being a mom was horrible. It was horrible and it and it was so hurtful, and I just couldn't get past it. So once I started reading the Bible and he started literally bringing the Bible to life for me, and it changed everything for me. So what I would say to someone is this is about you and him. This isn't about you and the church and you and this is a relationship for you and him, and you and him, like he says things to me. I know things like I pray and and in my in my in my time with him, um, he um speaks to me, and it's just for me and him. It's not for me to go tell you or you. Do you know what I mean? But I know, like, oh wow, that was him when things are happening or something, and it's really small things. He will show himself to you, and he will he will walk you through everything. I think it's important to get in your secret place and to spend time with him every morning or every evening or whenever you need to, but I think it's important that to build a relationship with him, you have to spend time with him, and you have to spend time in his word. Is that kind of answer?
SPEAKER_00:Well, and yeah, and I think too, he wants us to take the guilt and shame and remove it. Yes. And a lot of people that have been through all sorts of things, definitely addictions, we live in a lot of guilt and shame, and he wants that gone.
SPEAKER_02:Yes. So there was no way for me to move forward with with it because it was so it was so heavy. And it is for a lot of women that are in addiction, that have lost their children, or or their parents, or people are gone now, and they can't make an amendment. Do you know what I mean? It's that it's that gnawing and that horrible feeling. He will take that away. You know, and I think it too, he forgives you, you forgive you. It's so important.
SPEAKER_01:And 'cause the shame and guilt will you know, sometimes we've talked about it's it's uh easier to forgive others than forgiving ourselves. And if we can look at Christ's death on the cross was a brutal for all of our sins, even our own. You know what I'm saying? There's such freedom in saying, Father God, thank you, and living in freedom, knowing that once again he died for all of our sins, right? Yeah, he did. He did. I would love for you to share a little bit about it, it just is amazing to me how you are at Sandestin for a greater purpose. Can you talk about that?
SPEAKER_02:Yes. So when I first got my job at Sandestin, I um got hired as a dispatch dispatcher for housekeeping. Um, I knew nothing about computers. I didn't even know how to turn the computer on. Like it was really bad. But I had a boss, Sam, or I have a boss, her name is Sam, and she walked me through it step by step. We did it a little at a time because it was a lot. It was a lot, you know. Um, I got through that and then I really started getting good at it. You know, I was really proud of myself. I was like killing it. I was like, yay. I love it. So um after after a while, I got I got a promotion, I got some raises, I got a promotion to um dispatch supervisor. Um after a couple years there, I was like, I went to talk to another boss, um Micah and Sam, and I was like, listen, there's nowhere else to go. Like I want to, I want to grow, I want to learn more. And so Micah was like, okay, let's think about doing an area manager, and we'll do that later down the road. But meanwhile, I had um the Flavia, she was a rooms director at the front desk. Well, she just kind of took me under her wing and started taking me into all these stand-up meetings, and and I didn't know any of these people. I didn't even know why I was there. But I remember walking in there going, God, what is going on? Like I felt so uncomfortable. I didn't feel worthy, I didn't feel like I belonged there. I was like, this is wild to me. So um she kept doing it though. She kept doing it. And and I was meeting all kinds of people. Then she wanted to know my story. And once I told her my story, she she wanted to partner with the Path of Grace. And so that opened the doors for the other ladies. Then, and there's many ladies there that are working there that graduated from Path of Grace, and I will say that just about every single one of them have been um nominated for employee of the quarter or one employee of the quarter. And these are all girls from the Path of Grace, all walks of life. They don't care, like your past is your past. They care about your integrity, your work ethic. Um, it just opened the door, but I remember praying and I was like, God, what are you doing? Like, I why am I here? And I remember him saying, if you will just sit still, I'll show you what I'm doing. And the next thing you know, doors just started flying open. Again, he flies the doors, he opens them up. And so, yeah. And so it's been a beautiful journey there too. And there's a greater purpose for us. Yes, yes, because I didn't work for others, but yeah. And and I remember telling him, Lord, I just want to work with these ladies. Why I I don't know why I'm here at the you know, and um at Sandus. Guess what? Yeah, I get to work with the ladies because I'm working with just about they're they're everywhere now. They're they're in all the positions because there's a lot, but I still get to work with them in one way or another. So it's beautiful.
SPEAKER_01:You know, as I'm listening to you, I'm thinking that verse in Hebrews 6, it says hope is an anchor. It keeps us firm and secure. And I just sense there's people listening today that need hope that their lives can change and God will intervene in their situation, Brie, like he has in yours.
SPEAKER_02:What would you say to them? I would say that that is the that is the one thing that I've always held on to is the hope. The hope that this life is gonna be better. The hope that he has a future and a plan for me. And I would say hold on to that with everything, everything you have, because he's there, he's working, he's moving, and he will show up every time, not once, but every time he shows up.
SPEAKER_00:Well, and I I would say take that step and get help. Yes. Because we all need help. Everybody, whether I mean if you're an addiction or you're, you know, I mean, we all are fallen and we all need help, and we all need to take that step. Um, but I think this show it it just provides great hope to people to look at someone like you that was in addiction for a long period of time, and even at you know, 50 years old, God just redeemed redeemed your life, and you have great joy and peace, and you know, you're uh out there as a a manager and have people working under you now, and you're blessing many people.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah. You really are. She's just you are. You really are. You know, I when I was praying for you this morning, Brian just I just sensed the Lord wants you to know, you know, that verse where it says, Well done, my good and faithful servant. I believe like you just said a little bit ago, just continue to do the next right thing.
SPEAKER_02:I think uh that I tell the girls that all the time. That's all you need to do is just the next right thing. Just do the right thing. And he just like he walks with us and he's just been there with me through it all. And this hasn't been a great flowers and sunshine walk because I lost my brother to suicide in um 2020. And I tell you, like that, that was that was the my oldest brother. So it was my mom, my mom and him were really close, and it was difficult. But I remember I got the phone call, and the only thing I did was pray. I prayed for the I prayed, I said, God, please help me walk through this with my mom. I don't, I didn't know what to say. And when I got to my mom's house, it and I think about it now, it was like I was the strong one, I was the rock, and it was like watching myself walk, walk around. But yeah, it's been difficult, but like I said, I built a foundation that doesn't, it doesn't move when the winds come. So I was he's who I went to, he's who I stayed with through it, and it hurt. Gosh, yeah, it hurt. You know, and we've lost a lot of girls at Path of Grace through addiction, relapse, you know. Um, so but I still keep the hope and I know that the Lord has a plan for every single one. I don't believe one of those girls at Path of Grace was not chosen to be there and that he doesn't have a plan for them, just like he had for me. I couldn't see it. I had to walk it, you know. I had to walk through it and walk through all the doors and stuff, but I just kept walking and believing and hoping that things were gonna be better, and they most certainly have gotten there.
SPEAKER_01:So how about with your kids? I do want to before we close, how how are, you know, talk about restoration. Yes.
SPEAKER_02:So my oldest daughter, she um had a baby on the exact um on the year I was a year sober, July 21st. She was born on when I was a year sober. So that was a beautiful thing. Um, my other daughter, they they've all three um graduated from college. I'm going on December the 13th of my my baby. She's getting her master's. Um the other two have uh bachelor's. Um they're doing really well. They um they their thing with me was they I didn't know if they would forgive me or if they could, but the thing is, is when you make amends and things like that, their their thing was we just want you to have a beautiful life, mom. We want you to have a life. And so it was beautiful, and they're doing really well, and I thank God for that. And their fathers, their dads did a good job. So yeah. It's awesome. And it's all been restored. I'll say that.
SPEAKER_00:Was there any last thing, Brie, you would say to anyone out there that's just feeling hopeless?
SPEAKER_02:I would say to you to cry out to God that if you need help, take a step. Um, take the step, take the step to get some help. Um, it's there and it's waiting for you, and um, there's hope. You have a hope in a future, and God loves you.
SPEAKER_01:That's so good.
SPEAKER_00:That's so good.
SPEAKER_01:It really is. And you know, if I could say anything to what you just asked, talk to one person you trust. There's something about, right? Being honest with somebody. Because when we hold it in, Bree, maybe you can, you know, when we hold it all down, it's just not healthy. There's something about stepping out of the denial, stepping out of anything you want to say there to come.
SPEAKER_02:I would say that when um when I got in recovery and I got my sponsor and I built the trust up with her, of course, but being able to let all of those things out, like say them to you, these things that I had done, I was so ashamed, embarrassed about, and just humiliated, it was freeing. So I would say yes, for sure. Find someone that you can tell it all to, tell the whole ugly story to and just get it out because things in the dark are not good, but when they come to the light, they're exposed and it's it's a freeing feeling. It's good. Freeing. That's good.
SPEAKER_00:This has been so great, and we always like to end our show with the three pillars of road to redemption, which is first to get into the Word of God, to read the Bible daily, get up in the morning and just spend some time reading the Bible, spend some time in prayer with God before your day gets going. We promise it will change your life. And and and next is to get into a church, a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church, and just go. Don't try to find the perfect church, you never will. Just go and and and we people will welcome you, and you'll start to really feel God's presence, and God'll start ministering to you in the church. And then last is to get into a small group, a group that you can be accountable to, you can do life with, and this group's really gonna come around you and who you're gonna do your life with. So that those are the three key pillars as we end the show today.