An ex-convict shared his encounter with God’s love that completely changed the trajectory of his life. It was just a prayer away.
Traumatic Childhood
Life was hard for Steven Dees as he grew up feeling neglected by his drug-addicted parents. Consequently, he had to stay in orphanages and foster homes for shelter throughout his childhood. The unstable home environment led him to undergo the traumatic experience of being sexually assaulted at 13 years old. For that reason, he committed his first felony by burning down the home of the man who assaulted him.

The 700 Club. (Screenshot). (2024). Violent Life After Burning His Home, Retrieved March 6, 2024 from: https://youtu.be/f3L5djFKFeU
Then, Steven spent the next three years of his life in detention and a psychiatric hospital. However, two years after being released, he committed another crime that resulted in a six-year prison sentence.
Later, Steven hoped for a better life after being released at 24 years old. Consequently, he married and started a family. Steven and his wife had a daughter who tragically passed away after just one month. This devastated him, leading him to blame God for everything.
Encountering God’s Love
Steven tried to cope with his pain by using methamphetamine. It wasn’t long before he became dependent on the drug to make himself feel better. He also sold drugs. However, his addiction led him to assault people. The incident opened his eyes to the reality of what he had become, and he regretted it, feeling remorse for his actions.
INCURABLE DISEASE HEALED AFTER BEING PRAYED BY A STRANGER
Authorities sentenced Steven to 30 years in jail. Although he still harbored anger and resentment towards God, he attended a service in the chapel inside the prison. That’s when he heard about the hope found in Jesus for the first time. He learned that Jesus died on the cross to transform the life stories of every sinner. Consequently, he gave his life to Christ at that moment. He also asked God to help him overcome his drug addiction, heal those he had harmed, and seek mercy in his case.
What happened next was a miracle, reminding Steven of how much God loved him.
Reference | The 700 Club