Luke McCann

There was a time when I thought I had it all — a beautiful fiancée, a successful gym, money in my pocket, and what looked like the perfect life. I went to church on Sundays, smiled when I was supposed to, and convinced everyone — even myself — that I was doing well.

But the truth was, my heart was far from God. Pride ruled my life. I had built everything on my own strength and not on Christ. > Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

I had sold narcotics for much of my life, and even though I tried to clean up on the outside, inside, I was still broken and ashamed. Every Sunday at church, I’d sit sweating through the service, afraid that someone might see the real me — the man hiding behind a false image of success. I never truly appreciated what I had until it was gone. > 1 Samuel 16:7 – “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

My selfishness destroyed everything that mattered. My relationship fell apart. My finances collapsed. I lost my gym, my fiancée, and soon, I began to lose myself. Instead of turning to God, I turned to the world. I began partying, drinking, and surrounding myself with people who only cared about me when I had money.

I chased pleasure, trying to fill the emptiness in my heart — an emptiness that only God could fill. > Jeremiah 2:13 – “My people have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Then one day, my world came crashing down. I was arrested and charged with crimes I didn’t commit — armed robbery, assault, possession of a firearm — things that were completely foreign to what actually happened.

I was shocked, confused, and terrified. Sitting in that jail cell, I cried out, “God, what is happening to me?” I didn’t understand then, but now I know: God was breaking me down to build me back up. > Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

While in custody, my health deteriorated. My kidneys began to fail, and I was rushed to the hospital. I remember praying, “Lord, please help me,” and hearing a quiet voice telling me what to do so that I would be taken seriously by the guards. Within hours, doctors discovered that my kidneys were operating at 5%. I was dying.

But even in that hospital bed, shackled to the rails, God was with me. > Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Then came one of the hardest moments of my life. Four days before my bail hearing, God allowed me one last visit with my mom. We laughed, prayed, and talked about faith for hours. It was unusual that she was even allowed to visit — but now I know it was God’s mercy.

The next day, my mom passed away suddenly from a heart attack. I was devastated. Handcuffed to a hospital bed, I couldn’t even attend her funeral. My world was shattered — but God had not abandoned me. > Psalm 34:19 – “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

I dropped to my knees and prayed for forgiveness. I confessed my sins, my pride, and my rebellion. I realized that even in my suffering, God was showing me grace. He had allowed everything I relied on to be stripped away — so that all I had left was Him. > 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

While in jail, I became gravely ill again — septic, close to death. But God spared me. Time after time, when I should have died, He healed me. And every time I cried out, He answered. When I asked for a Bible, and none could be found, a kind officer brought me one.

Later, when I was transferred to another hospital for surgery, a nurse of faith — who didn’t know my story — offered me a Bible on her own. God was reminding me that He was still with me. > Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

In that cell, I read my Bible for hours every day — sometimes eight or ten hours straight. The Word of God became my lifeline. I wept, repented, and began to feel His Spirit work in me. I realized that even though I was physically imprisoned, my soul was being set free. > John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Soon, I began sharing the Word with others. What started as one man reading alone became a Bible study that grew from four men to sixteen. We read the Gospel of Matthew together every morning, discussed the parables, and prayed. Hardened men began to soften. Tears were shed. Hearts began to change — not because of me, but because of the power of Jesus Christ. > Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”

Even in jail, I saw revival — because God moves wherever He is invited. > Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Over time, my health improved. I went from taking twelve pills a day to just two. My kidneys began to heal. I could urinate on my own again. God not only restored my body but also renewed my spirit. He gave me peace, purpose, and the strength to carry on. I realized that my pain had become my platform — my prison had become my pulpit. > Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Then one day, my lawyer called. He said, “Luke, the charges have been dropped — you’re going home.” I broke down in tears. God had set me free, both spiritually and physically. > Psalm 126:3 – “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

When I was released, my pastor and his family welcomed me into their home. My church family embraced me with open arms. What the devil meant for evil, God turned for good. > Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Now I live to tell others what Jesus has done in my life. He took a prideful, broken, lost man and gave him a new heart, a new purpose, and a new life. I am living proof that God still saves, heals, and redeems. > Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.”

I lost everything — my business, my fiancée, my health, and my mother — but in losing all of that, I found something far greater: I found Jesus Christ. > Philippians 3:8 – “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

He is my Savior, my Healer, my Rock, and my Redeemer. If He can save me, He can save anyone. > Psalm 18:2 – “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.” So I encourage you — no matter how far you think you’ve fallen, no matter what sin or shame you carry — call on the name of Jesus. He will meet you right where you are.

He will forgive you, restore you, and give you a new beginning. > Romans 10:13 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God took my prison and turned it into a place of purpose. He took my pain and turned it into praise. > Isaiah 61:3 – “To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

All glory, honor, and praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. > Psalm 40:2-3 – “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” Amen.