Have you met my friend Benji before? You might know him from The Jayar Show and then on the weekends on The JOY FM.   And because you hear him on the radio, you probably already know that he’s funny, talented, has an amazing heart, and... he's a little weird - like me!

But what you probably don’t know is that Benji has been down a dark road. 

Often times, people in the public eye, especially in Christian circles, don't like to reveal the negative things they've been through. So I am honored that my friend Benji, who never speaks on air about his struggle with addiction, has been willing to share his testimony on The Jules Show podcast. 

Benji grew up, for the most part, in a Christian home. His father wasn't a church-going man, but he didn't object when Benji's mom, aunt and uncle took him to church. Benji came to Christ as a young teen. Although he was saved, he never really developed a close relationship with Christ. 

High school came and went without much change in his faith. But just a month after his graduation from high school, Benji's dad died of cancer. He went ahead with his plans to go off to college in the fall, but not facing his father's loss led him into some pretty destructive behavior.

He started drinking, then got into drugs and his life took a turn down a dark road.

Years later, after getting clean and sober, Benji realized that God had been with him and was actually pursuing him through it all.

One of the greatest things about working at The Joy FM is the ability to hear from listeners who call in and tell us their stories of how God has used this radio station to help them through some very rough times. I'm humbled each time I sit behind a microphone and share something positive and encouraging with our listeners. But I sometimes feel like people in Christian radio ministry - just like church ministry -  think they have to give the appearance of never having had troubles. We are ashamed of our past and the mistakes we've made and think it will reflect poorly on our ministry if people know what we've done. This is why I am so thankful for the courage of my friend Benji, who by telling his story, can help others see how God uses every circumstance in our lives-even the bad and self destructive ones-to draw us closer to Himself. Sometimes rock bottom is the best place we can be because it allows us to hit our knees in submission to God's will. 

Benji's story is of grief, addiction, and ultimately redemption. He went down dangerous paths, even denying God's existence at one point, but God never let go of Benji. And God will never let go of us, either. No matter how low we get. In those days when we think we're too far gone for God to love us, He chases after us like a parent chases after a toddler running toward the road. Thank God we can't outrun God!

Listen to Benji's interview and learn his full story, as well as the scripture God has placed on his heart for this year. 

You can hear Benji each afternoon on The Jayar Show from 3:00-7:00 pm and on weekends 3:00-7:00 pm.