Going from Being Broken to Unbreakable

The episode features an interview with Jerry Essary Jr., a published author who has written two faith-based books sharing his powerful personal testimony. Jerry opens up about the traumatic events and struggles in his life that ultimately led to his spiritual awakening and conversion to Christianity.  Jerry discusses the challenges of writing his first book "When Faith Comes to Town", which took him 7 years due to the emotional difficulty of revisiting painful memories. He had to take breaks from writing as reliving the trauma would trigger depression and darkness. However, he persisted because he felt compelled to share his story of how God radically transformed his life. Jerry vividly recounts the pivotal moment when he experienced a profound spiritual encounter with God while admitted to a mental health hospital after hitting rock bottom. In that moment, he had a warmth and loving presence envelop him, leading him to fully surrender to Christ. This marked the start of his new life in faith. Throughout the conversation, Jerry emphasizes the power of humility, vulnerability, prayer, fasting, and staying grounded in Scripture during seasons of struggle. He acknowledges it's not easy, sharing his own ongoing battles, but stresses the importance of persevering and keeping your eyes on God.  Jerry's second book consists of poetry focused on praise and worship, written from the perspective of grappling with modern-day issues like anxiety and depression through the lens of faith. His goal is to provide hope and inspiration to others facing similar dark valleys. The host and Jerry also discuss relatable topics like avoiding discouragement when you haven't had a radical salvation experience, dealing with addictions prominent in certain industries like the oil field Jerry works in, and being an example of vulnerability and openness as a man. Jerry's authenticity and passion shine through as he shares his desire to potentially start a trauma ministry. Overall, the episode is a powerful, honest discussion about one man's journey from brokenness to unbreakable faith, offering hope through the realities of spiritual struggle and ultimate transformation. Books By Jerry  When Faith Comes to Town: How Broken Became Unbreakable https://a.co/d/85agOoi Spiritual Symphony: The Resonance of Psalms, Proverbs, and Prayers https://a.co/d/iNUtFie 00:00:00 Introduction to Positively Undefeated 00:00:42 Meeting Burl and Discussing Published Books 00:02:30 Challenges and Triumphs in Publishing 00:07:05 Family History in the Oil Field 00:08:17 Lessons Learned from His Father 00:10:33 Second Book: Praise and Worship Poetry 00:13:21 Safety and Changes in the Oil Field 00:14:42 Preaching the Gospel in the Oil Field 00:16:08 Finding Strength in Adversity 00:21:31 Spiritual Awakening in a Mental Health Hospital 00:23:44 Encouragement for Those Seeking Spiritual Experiences 00:27:20 The Power of Fasting 00:31:14 Inspiring Personal Stories 00:35:34 Overcoming Struggles 00:40:31 Finding Strength in Scripture 00:42:10 Weather Chit-Chat 00:44:44 Connecting with Jerry 00:50:44 Breaking Down Walls 00:55:12 Wrapping Up with Positively Undefeated