By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

"So how has your life changed since you arrived at the night shelter?" I asked the 24-year-old Rodellesitting in front of me. She had a rough childhood. There was a lot of violence in their home. From a young age, she was exposed to things no child should ever see. At age 16, she began using drugs. Later-on, she sold drugs to maintain her habit. At a moment of utter despair, she arrived at the night shelter a while ago. The shelter is managed by two people sold out to God.

During my radio show, we visited the night shelter where I interviewed Rodelle. Her answer to my question of how her life had changed since arriving at the shelter came as an unexpected surprise. She looked me deep in my eyes and with tears streaming down her cheeks she said: "Here, I discovered what it means to have a 'normal life'. I damaged my own and so many other lives through selling drugs that I thought God will never forgive me. When I met Jesus, I realized that He also died for me. I am truly grateful for His grace and mercy.”

Rodelle’s honesty left a lump in my throat. I immediately thought of God’s words in Psalm 103:12: “...as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Also in 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Jesus not only came to earth to heal the blind, deaf and lame. He also came for the broken and those hurting. Still today, He bends down to us in our weak moments, saying: “It's okay. Let's startagain.” His heart’s desire is that we take what He came to give as – life and that in abundance. God bless.

Father God, thank you for Your indescribable grace. Please help me to embrace that abundant life that Jesus Christ came to give us. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

• See picture of Rodelle at www.benescke.co.za or on the Stories van Hoop page on Facebook.

• Feedback: Please give feedback or share your testimony of God's breakthroughs in your life at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It is always wonderful to hear from you. Benescke