Experience description:

I have been a drug addict and a criminal for as long as I can remember. I spent more than 17 years in prison, but none of that changed anything. On January 21, 2026, I was incarcerated again.

On February 1, 2026, I was alone in my cell after lockdown, reflecting on my life. Suddenly, it was as though a switch had been flipped. I experienced a moment of complete clarity and understood that I was helpless against my addictions. I felt that I had no chance of overcoming them. I had become a shell of a person, completely empty and without hope. I had reached the point where I was simply giving up.

I said, "I give up. I can't win, and I'm done trying."

I understood that this meant I would either spend the rest of my life in prison or die from an overdose. Then I noticed a Bible sitting on the desk. I stopped in front of it and realized I was crying.

I said, "God, I don't know what to do. I can't do this anymore. I need You in my life."

I didn't expect anything to happen. I was desperate and couldn't see any other option, so I decided to try.

Immediately after I said those words, I felt a presence surround me. Then I experienced the cleanest, purest, and deepest love I had ever felt. It changed me instantly. I suddenly knew that this was who I was supposed to be all along. I understood that the emptiness inside me had come from cutting myself off from God. Now I was no longer cut off from Him, and that emptiness was gone.

I realized I had spent my life chasing the wrong things, trying to fill that empty space inside me. Now it was filled with the only thing that could ever truly fill it: God and God's love. Even those words cannot do justice to what I experienced.

It was a complete transformation, a spiritual awakening. Now I am on this beautiful journey, experiencing a peace I never knew existed, along with joy and love. My desire to use drugs or drink alcohol has been taken away from me. I make sure to stay connected to God.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience? No.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience? I was completely conscious.

Was the experience dream like in any way? No.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body? No.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Gratitude, love, and joy.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises? No.

Did you see a light? No.

Did you meet or see any other beings? No.

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? No.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later? No.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different? No.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time? No.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose? Yes. We are here to love each other.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No.

Did you become aware of future events? No.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices? I am connected to others in a way I was never capable of before.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes. I stay connected to God. No more criminal behavior. I am clean and sober without any thoughts of using drugs.

Have you shared this experience with others? Yes. Some yes and some no.

What emotions did you experience following your experience? Love and joy.

What was the best and worst part of your experience? All good.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? It was the most beautiful thing ever.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes. I explained it accurately.