https://burnettministries.org/blog-pages-for-2023

Johanna Ballard’s Testimony 5-18-2023

Introduction

·??????I met Johanna at Bringhurst Meat Market, during the time Jeff Bringhurst was being interviewed about the story/testimony he was going to share. She agreed to share her story.

·??????Johanna Ballard was born in Pennsylvania and received her formal education, after which she became an event coordinator. She worked at Crown Plaza, did event planning and finances were included in her education.

·??????Johanna is the daughter of two Baptist ministers, and she has a twin sister. Being raised properly, somehow, she went off on her own, but major problems were still part of her life.

·??????After her getting back on track with Jesus, major problems were still a part of Johanna’s life. She was a workaholic and a functioning drug addict. During the earlier years when Johanna and her twin sister were together, they were drug buddies off and on as they moved around from place to place.

·??????Johanna’s addiction began when she was seventeen years old until she was set free nineteen years later, as Jesus brought her to her knees. At thirty six years old, Johanna went into a detox center, stayed one month, and walked away clean, never returning to drugs again.

Backtracking – During the years between seventeen and thirty six, Johanna’s addition was heavy on the weekends during her college years, yet she maintained an almost 4.0 average. She used all types of drugs throughout her dependency.

What did all this affect Johanna’s life? There was shame and restlessness-

She felt shame and guilt because of her thoughts of how she could have been a better kid. Shame and guilt for not being good enough, what she was not loved.

Restlessness – She keeps busy so the thoughts of hurts and feeling unloved stop haunting her. Being an employee at Bringhurst has made Johanna feel like she is with family, but that still does not fill the void that has been there since she was a child.

·??????Here’s a woman who had it all going for herself (so she thought), but God had another place and plan for her. When things took a twist in her life, the world looked down on Johanna, but she finds the greatest joy in knowing God’s will is being done.

·??????Johanna lived high on the hog and high on drugs, but one day all of it came crashing down. Johanna admits that her life was messed up for years, and it was totally out of control. She admits that if it weren’t for God’s grace, she would be a total wreck. All the illegal things she did, Johanna never went to jail, because God had a destiny for her to fulfill.

·??????Johanna’s take away from her testimony is, when people think they are at their lowest or at their highest in life, just know that God has the ultimate plan for your life.

·??????Johanna authored a poem after spending thirty days in rehab, it will be posted tomorrow.

Thank you, Johanna, for allowing me to share your story for God’s glory. Coming tomorrow – Johanna’s poem “Filling My Hollow Soul”

Love sharing others’ stories for God’s glory ~ Betty A. Burnett