Get The Hell Out of Your Life

From Darkness to Light: The Power of Belief

• Ron Meyers • Season 4 • Episode 34

Share episode

Send us a text

What happens when you reach the end of your rope, teetering on the edge of despair and addiction? Can a simple prayer to the 'dude' in the sky spark a journey of healing and joy? Join us as we explore these profound questions with our guest, John Boy, a former addict whose raw and honest journey from a life consumed by drugs to a path of faith will leave you captivated and inspired. John's story is a testament of transformation, found in the unlikeliest of circumstances, filled with lessons of self-discovery, redemption, and the power of faith.

The episode deepens as we delve into the moments where John's life hit rock bottom - from losing his job to a terrifying brain bleed triggered by a hit of methamphetamine. John's tale serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating the possibilities for transformation even in the darkest moments. But our enlightening journey doesn't stop there. We also engage in a heartfelt discussion with Ron, a fellow traveler who moved from a life of hedonism to one brimming with God's grace. Ron's transformative testimonial reaffirms the power of faith, offering a spark of inspiration and encouragement. This episode is not just a conversation, but an unforgettable journey filled with testimonials of redemption and transformation that will leave your heart warmed and your spirit uplifted.

  • If you would like to share your story, click this link: https://thepromoter.org/story/

Thanks for Listening, and subscribe to hear a new episode each week!

Announcer:

The following program is sponsored by Ron Meyers Ministries.

Announcer:

It's time now to get the hell out of your life. A weekly broadcast with real people sharing real struggles and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire and empower you to face life's challenges with a bold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, ron Meyers. The promoter.

Ron Meyers:

Hello, my friends, it is so good to be with you. My name is Ron Meyers. I'm your host in this show is all about getting the hell out of your life, living the life that you have dreamt about. That you think is probably impossible, but I think after you hear today's story, you will change your mind. Have you ever wondered Is there someone out there that hears me? Is there a man upstairs? Is there a God that really cares about me? That's today's story You're going to hear from John Boy.

Ron Meyers:

John Boy never knew anything about a God. In fact, he was on a porch one night and he looked up in the sky and said hey, dude, if you're real, I need to see what you can do with my life. His life changed. So you're going to hear this story with John Boy and I want you to know I don't care where you're at, what you've gone through, what is in your mind there is someone out there for you to help you become the person you were created to be. So sit back and, for the next few minutes, listen to a story that will inspire, encourage and empower you. John Boy, so glad to have you on the phone. How are you doing today? I'm doing good man. How are you doing? I'm doing great. So, john Boy, what is your story? Oh, okay.

Jon Boy:

About seven years ago I had just come out of active addiction with methamphetamine use and all kinds of other drug use. You know, just anything that you know tickle my fancy. That's the way I went and I tried to get to a probation appointment, man, and I got. I missed it. And I had a friend that worked in the law enforcement there and was trying to go weasel it over and make it like it was okay. And I went to my friend's house and took one look at me and realized he needs to go to rehab and so it took him about a day to get me talked into it. You know, I didn't want to quit. I didn't. I didn't even think about quitting. And there I was the next day, on my way to rehab. But I didn't know it was a. It was a discipleship program. They were calling it a rehab and this and this, and it wasn't a rehab at all. It was a discipleship program.

Jon Boy:

You can see where I was filled with the sexual immorality, things like that, you know, man, and I was tossed into a charismatic movement with a bunch of people who were just like me but had found the Lord and had joy and things like that, you know. So at first I thought you know well, these guys are high, you know meaning they're hiding it from me. Something's going on, you know, and I'm like, cause that was real quiet. I had been to prison and so I just stayed to myself for the first couple of weeks and but I kept noticing, you know, this joy that these people don't have no reason to have. I mean, there were. Some of them were facing 25 years in prison, 10 years, eight years. All of them were felons and and and I was too, and but I started to notice these people wanted to pray for me, and love that I had never seen come from people like me. You know what I mean, no-transcript. So I started there, notice this real joy, and I really evaluated it. You know, count the calls is how we say nowadays, speaking Christian ease, and it can't be called through the discipleship. But I didn't know what I was doing. That, but I was.

Jon Boy:

I remember my first prayer. I got so tired of seeing this joy and I could not grasp it. You know, going to classes every morning, I couldn't get the Bible. I've never read it, I didn't know what a Pharisee was and and all these things, these contradictions that Flew to the front of my head. I could not understand it, you know, and but the only way that I knew Everything everybody keep driving into my head. You know, you got to pray, you got to talk to Lord and I'd never talked to Lord.

Jon Boy:

I remember, like it was yesterday, I was laying in the bed. I couldn't sleep in these little cubicles that they give me, so I slept on the on the port, because it was in summertime, and I remember looking up at and I just started talking to him. I called him dude the first time. You called him dude. Yeah, I said I'm like I'm sorry, look dude. I said I see this joy, I see this, this love, I see this joy. That it's something I've never seen. I've had what I thought was joy, you know, man, to Whatever kind of worldly things that I thought was joy, but not real joy, and I'd seen this because it was different than the joy that I had before. And and I start squalling, you know, man, and I wasn't a cry at the time and I I said you got to show me something. I said because I don't know and I remember I mean I don't remember the exact words of the prayer I think I had my hand folded and things like that. You know, man, because that's what I'd seen, that's what I knew, I just called him dude, I didn't know what to call him man.

Jon Boy:

And um, within a couple days, man, I started seeing changes and you know, I didn't want to change. Then, all of a sudden, there was a deep down desire to start to change and, within about a first week or so, these things that they were sowing into me, as far as classes ago and and discipleship courses like this, everything started to make sense and, and the Lord had opened up the word to me in a way that I'd never thought possible. I'd heard people reading the Bible in prison and and things like that. I never could make no sense out of it, and and but all of a sudden, this complete Word had been transformed in front of me and now I could understand it and I mean, I, I never Turned back. Wow, it was like I never had. I never had a father. So for me to find out that he was there, that's all I needed to know, that he was there. So you never grew up with a father? No, no, sir, I had my mother and my grandmother, and that was about it.

Ron Meyers:

So this dude that you talked to was your heavenly father and he wanted to Come into your life and give you some joy? Is that what happened?

Jon Boy:

Yeah, man, he did and and yeah, it was amazing. Um, I never, I never turned around, I never looked back. Man. Um, I Mean I chewed on it, everything, they, they that come in my direction, man, I just I wrote it down, I chewed on it. I mean I think I read the New Testament in the first month and I just turn, turn around and start reading it again and start reading again, and that's that's how I done it, man. I Wow it just it come alive to me to the point to where I didn't do nothing when I got off work during the day. I would come there eight and get my bed and crack open the word and that's, everybody knew that's where I would be. Wow, they come in there looking for me, man, and I was in the word and I was in my bed.

Ron Meyers:

Now were you starting to get some of that joy that you saw all the other people have was joy beginning to emerge in your life.

Jon Boy:

Yeah, man, it was. It was amazing. On About a week and a half after that, my this first prayer they give me a job in the front of this thrift store and they want me to do the cashier. So I didn't know. You know, the cashier thing was easy, and and and whatnot, you know. So I started to be so in line. You know, man, I was still trying to learn and and how to be a Christian, so I started the show just love, everybody that come in, come into a thrift store, man. I started the show love, and that's how I did it, man. And before long is three or four months, man, if people come there to see me, they come alive, and me in such a way that I didn't know what was happening. Really, I knew that I was changing.

Ron Meyers:

Seek the first the kingdom of God and everything will fall into place you know, you know, john boy, you said in the beginning, when you sent me this letter, that you were every kind of evil thing that you could think of. But now, all of a sudden, you're in a thrift store Showing people love. There had to be times when you'd be in your room or somewhere and just scratch your head and think to yourself what in the world is happening to me, how, how, how is this even possible that I can love somebody when yet I've done so many evil things in my life?

Jon Boy:

It was. It was amazing. I took what he said as the truth because I'd never seen things that were this truthful in my life. I always had to read it, read out what was true, them what was fake, but now, with with Jesus, everything was true. So I really realized that he could not lie. Amen, he has the best interest at heart for me and I bought into it completely. I loved it and, um, that's that's amazing, that's awesome.

Ron Meyers:

You know, jesus said I'm the way, the truth in the life, and no one comes to the father but through me. So you came to your heavenly father through Jesus, and we also have heard that the truth will set us free. So the truth of God's word got into your heart and started setting you free, unlocking the bondage of all those things that have been in your life. So was the desire to do drugs or drink or corrals or chase women? Was all that disappearing in your life?

Jon Boy:

It didn't it didn't stick around for long. Every now and then, when I would lay down I think about you know when I, where I would be if I was out on the street or doing this or that. I guess sexual immorality Stayed with me longer than anything, you know, and I still does. You know, man, I think we always, we're always, gonna be sinners. We start, we keep learning until this thing's over.

Jon Boy:

One day, on the fifth month or so, I'm standing up front, meditating, reading my Bible and I start to thinking about I had, I had thought about math or drugs in like two or three months, man, I and I'm sitting up there, you know, just praising like when that word, that, where does it leave? I kept trying to understand this because I've been to AA and things like this every day. You got to do your devotion and you got to do this, you, 12 steps and this and this. But what I realized is that 12 steps and things like that or something that I do, but this was a work of God that happened inside of me and what I realized over time thinking about it methamphetamines and and drug abuse had fell off of me, but I didn't know what happened. Well, and I realized that the reason that I think the Lord does that so that we can't we can't take credit for it ourselves.

Ron Meyers:

Well, friends, it's time for a break and when we return, the conclusion of John Boy's story.

Announcer:

You're listening to get the hell out of your life with your host, ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles and real hope.

Announcement:

What's your story? We're looking for stories of hope and overcoming life struggles with God's grace. Your story validates God's love, mercy, restoration and forgiveness. We want to help you share your story with the world. Visit our website, the promoter org, and click on the share your story link and submit your story. Your testimony of God's amazing grace will change a person's destiny for eternity.

Announcer:

Getting encouragement is important and it helps us overcome our fears and gives us the courage to face life's challenges. To receive weekly messages of encouragement, all you need to do is text inspire to 888-527-1223. That's 888-527-1223. Our messages are intended to inspire and empower you on your life journey. Remember, life is more enjoyable when you're inspired.

Ron Meyers:

Welcome back listeners. You're hearing John Boy's story. He was looking for someone out there. He referred to hey dude, I need some help. And well, the dude helped him. The dude was Jesus. And now, john Boy, I want to ask you was life beginning to start to make sense? Were good things beginning to happen in your life? You're?

Jon Boy:

exactly right, man it was. And then for the past, for the next three, three and a half years, I lived the word man. That's all I did with that. Within a year, I graduated the program and I was offered a Leadership role just to work there and and do this, and I was. I was going to the court system and and getting people out you know, people that I had been in prison and jail with and and it was just completely awesome.

Ron Meyers:

Everything was Different and so beautiful and and what happened, in that after three and a half years there's always a but you know Satan loves us. You know we're going down that road of on our path and our destiny, but he always likes to throw a roadblock up in the middle of our road to get us off our path of destiny. And didn't that happen to you?

Jon Boy:

Yes, sir, sure did um, when I had graduated program, um, I had found a girl and, and not long after that I don't think I really heard the Lord it's not good for a man to be alone and and I got married about six months after I left to graduate the program, moved in together and started to live a life, and I Went through about two years, man Just still Sowing into it and doing things like this, and then all of a sudden man it was it was about two and a half years ago a friend of mine to come up to the thrift store Actually, it was my cousin and um said hey, man, I got your doobie wrote up, you know me?

Jon Boy:

Oh, I didn't think, I didn't think about it, you know me, didn't think nothing about us, and I'm good dude. And I went into my office and then I was leaving and my cousin was still there and it was like I just Rode down the window and said man, shut, the only that man. I'm gonna put it in my eyes for Tray for later. Whatever I was thinking, I have no idea.

Ron Meyers:

I don't know why I didn't they always say, john boy, they always say that if you let that door open a crack, that the devil will push that down, door down and come in like a mighty wave. Is that what happened exactly?

Jon Boy:

Exactly, and it did at not at first. You know I did that afternoon. You know nobody was at the house and all this and I didn't do it for another two or three months. I'm not going to make no excuses of it. You know what I mean. Over time it became a problem for me.

Ron Meyers:

So you were hiding it in front of everybody, but it was getting to be a problem, oh man horrible and still preaching the word. So you're preaching the word smoking don't be horrible. And did you have guilt inside you? Were you starting to feel guilty?

Jon Boy:

Yeah, it was horrible, man. It was horrible. So I got to the point to where I couldn't. I was the one, only one that could do my job, and and I couldn't double back on everything that I tried to accomplish every now and then I quit.

Ron Meyers:

So John boy, what was it that took you down? A drug test at work, uh oh.

Jon Boy:

Well, when you you know when you're in activation, you can't tell that anybody notices, because you are. Well, I can hide it, I'm doing this, I'm doing this and nobody can see.

Ron Meyers:

So they decide to do a drug test on you and it comes back positive.

Jon Boy:

So yeah, from marijuana and a lost my job.

Ron Meyers:

So they tell you to hit the road, jack, and don't you come back. No more, no more, you're gone. Yes, sir, so after that you probably don't have much left to live for, except for that little doobie and some methamphetamines.

Jon Boy:

Huh, yeah, I wouldn't take. I wasn't doing methamphetamines, I was doing these things that you can get at the gas station, and to the point to where I had to come go to detox. I had had me a job and doing things like this and going into going into detox. Man, I, the Lord, had finally went out. You know, I've been praying and then so eventually I said I'm on surrender and I'm going to go to detox. I went to a what I thought was a medical detox, but it wasn't. And I was on the third day screaming and pain, laying in the bed and I got kicked out for being too loud. Anybody who's ever went through detox or opioids or something like that, it's horrible, and so you get kicked out of detox.

Ron Meyers:

And then what happened?

Jon Boy:

I thought well, I'll go to a friend of mine's house. I knew that I could do a little mess to get over my withdrawals from back in the day and I've seen people do that for years you know mean coming off opioids or something. They would do a little bit of math and get them through their detox. Well, that's exactly what I did. I left gas in and come here to Anniston and went to a friend of mine's house and woke up three days later in Birmingham, paralyzed on my right side and where I had a massive brain bleed from a hypertension. Wow.

Jon Boy:

From doing that, one hit a mess.

Ron Meyers:

So you had a brain bleed and now you're paralyzed. Please tell me that that got your attention.

Jon Boy:

Yeah, man, I had already had my attention. The only reason I went to detox was because I had to get free the way I was before, and then because everything was horrible compared to what it was when I was walking with Jesus.

Ron Meyers:

So now you're paralyzed. You're not even walking, or were you able to walk with?

Jon Boy:

completely paralyzed. I was like two face all the way down my sternum. I mean how some of my body is still numb on my right side. I woke up, didn't know where I was, what had happened or whatever, and it after about an hour it comes back to me, sitting there for 12, 8 to 18 days and trapped in my own body. I couldn't talk. I could. I couldn't convey any kind of messages because it was word salad or mumble. The only thing that I could say was I know, I know. I never did cry when I found out I was paralyzed and on a stroke floor. That's all you ever hear is somebody is always crying, no matter what. But I woke up completely knowing that I had been saved through the grace of God. It wasn't anything that I had done, and not only that and the neurologist told you you would probably never walk again, didn't he?

Jon Boy:

Yeah, they said at the end of my bed and talked about me like it was over. It was over. They were talking about me, at the end of my bed, looking at me and I'm like it was horrible man to be trapped inside your own body and not be able to tell them that I'm okay, I understand what you're talking about. But they said, no, there's no reason, no way that I will ever walk again. He'll be paralyzed for the rest of his life. On his right side it was a nickel size brain bleed. Wow, there was no reason that I should be alive. There's no reason that I should ever have the capacity to speak again anything.

Ron Meyers:

But, john Boy, we know with God and we're running short on time. We know with God he has the final say in the story Today.

Jon Boy:

you are walking, aren't you? Oh yeah, man, every day, man, my legs at about 75%. I'm back to the point to where I can almost run, but not run but kind of jog, you know what?

Ron Meyers:

I mean, there's someone out there right now that can't get off of drugs and they're hearing the story. They don't want to listen to it, but there's something is compelling them to listen to it. What would you tell that person? I would tell them to just give in to Jesus just give it to Him.

Jon Boy:

It's hard for us to let go because it's the only thing that we can control. Yeah, we want control, don't we Exactly? But if we let Him have it and we'll realize four or five days later, it don't take long that we realize the things that we were holding on to were killing us. Everything that he does is good. When you're in addiction, everything that you're doing is bad. Now, it'll take you a while to realize that, but when you do, he will turn it on for you and you'll never look back and you will never understand why in the world you've done drugs in the first place.

Ron Meyers:

That is so true, john Boy. And so, john Boy, are you happy today?

Jon Boy:

Yeah, man, I'm happy every day, man, amen. I've been given a new lease on life, man, and it is simply by the grace of God.

Ron Meyers:

So this dude that you prayed to. For the very first time you called him dude, but you realize he's a loving heavenly Father that has your best interest in mind, doesn't he? Amen? You know, I like talking to you, John Boy, and I appreciate you sharing your story with the listeners. And, John Boy, will you pray for the listeners today?

Jon Boy:

Father, I thank you so much for not just what you've given me, but for what you're doing in everybody else's life. Who's on the list? Who's listening over the air right now? Just turn it on for them, father. Turn them on the way that you turn me on. Father, give them grace. Give them an abundance in their heart, give them a love for the Word. Give them what you gave me, father. You know what they need. I don't, father, give them what you believe they need. Father and Jesus, I thank you so much. Thank you for this glorious day. Amen, amen, brother. Yeah, thank you so much, man. It was awesome, dude.

Ron Meyers:

Yeah, john Boyd, god bless your brother. Well, listen, I love you, I'm praying for you and you keep up the good work. Thank you so much, oh you're so welcome.

Jon Boy:

All right, man, take it easy.

Announcer:

You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life with your host, ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles and real hope.

Announcment:

Jesus, jesus, what do you think of when you hear that name? Jesus, jesus, love, life, hope, joy, peace, friend, companion, comfort, savior. The God of the universe lives, and he lives in the form of a man. That man is Jesus Christ, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall have eternal life. Jesus, what will you do with him? He knocks on the door of your heart. When you open that door, your life will change forever. It came that the world may have life and may have it more abundantly. Ask Jesus into your heart and discover what living is all about. Call 1-888-NEED-HIM.

Announcer:

Ron will be back in a moment to wrap up today's conversation. We want to encourage you today with God's promise to you. It comes from the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. That's God's promise to you when you choose to commit your plans and future to Him. Now back to Ron.

Ron Meyers:

Well, I know you're out there somewhere. You know the person that is like John Boye you're searching, you're tired of life, you're tired of doing the same thing over and over and never getting any good results. Today is the day to call upon the name of Jesus. I don't care if you say, hey, dude, the man upstairs, I need some help. Come into my life. It's an easy dialogue, an easy conversation, and then there will be people that will come into your life and to help you get onto the path to become the person God created you to be. I really encourage you.

Ron Meyers:

Friends, I was a messed up, screwed up individual for many, many years. It was all about sex, drugs and rock and roll for me, but I called upon the name of Jesus in a hotel room and well, my life's never been the same and that's why I share these stories, because I believe in you. I know what God wants to do in your life. I'll be back next week with another great episode of Get the Hell Out of your Life. In the meantime, remember this I love you, god loves you, and it's time to get the hell out of your life.

Announcer:

Today's show was produced by Ron Myers Ministries. A listener supported ministry. For a copy of today's broadcast, please visit our website, thepromoterorg, and would you prayerfully consider making a tax deductible donation so that we may continue to share stories of God's amazing grace with the world. And join us next week for another broadcast of Get the Hell Out of your Life no people sharing real struggles and offering real hope.