From Darkness to Light

A Journey from Darkness to Light: My Encounter with Jesus Christ

On April 20, 2008, at just 24 years old, I reached the very end of myself. Life felt unbearable—a series of struggles with family conflicts, personal battles, and the chains of addiction had brought me to my lowest point. It was as if I had not just hit rock bottom but had fallen through the ground, metaphorically buried six feet under. I felt utterly hopeless. Friends couldn’t help, family couldn’t help, and I believed no one I knew could help me.

That night, a life-changing event occurred. I was sitting alone in the basement of a friend’s house around 1 a.m., overwhelmed and broken. Tears began to stream uncontrollably down my face, and I started to weep bitterly in a way I never had before. My face was drenched with tears, as if streams of water were flowing from within me.

Then something extraordinary happened. A strange, radiant light appeared in the room, engulfing everything around me. The basement disappeared in the brilliance of this light, and I found myself immersed in something otherworldly. As the light refracted off my tears, I saw a man in a white robe enter through the brightness. His face shone with an intensity far greater than the sun, making it impossible to see his features.

As He walked slowly toward me, I knew—without a doubt—that this was Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. It was not something anyone had told me; it was a revelation given to my spirit in that sacred moment. When He reached me, He walked into me, and I heard the voice of God the Father say, “Go home, son.”

In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of love, peace, and restoration. For the first time in my life, I felt truly loved. The Spirit of God had entered my life, and everything changed in an instant. My soul, once lost and broken, was restored, and I knew I would never be the same.

No other figure—Buddha, Shiva, or Allah—came to me in my darkest hour. It was the Lord Jesus Christ who fulfilled His promise and met me where I was. He had a plan for my life, even when I had no idea. I was like the prodigal son in Luke 15, lost and broken, yet embraced by the grace and mercy of God.

The First Seeds of Faith

Reflecting on my journey, I now see that God had been planting seeds in my life long before that night in 2008. My first memory of church dates back to when I was five years old. My parents had recently begun their journey of faith, and we started attending a church near our home in Flushing, NY.

As a young child, I wasn’t interested in church. I just wanted to play. But one Sunday, during a children’s service, something memorable happened. We were asked to recite Psalm 23. I resisted, saying, “I’m not going to do it. If the man next to me does it, I will.” The young man sitting beside me, likely in his late twenties or early thirties, responded kindly, “I will recite it.” Reluctantly, I agreed to join in.

As we recited the words, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” I felt something profound. Though I didn’t understand the meaning at the time, I sensed a protective presence watching over me. It was my first encounter with God, though I was too young to fully grasp it.

The Author and Finisher of My Faith

Through the years, my life was filled with challenges and struggles. Yet, as I look back, I see that Jesus Christ was always there, patiently guiding me. Hebrews describes Him as the "Author and Finisher of faith," and I believe this wholeheartedly.

Even in my darkest moments, God had a plan for my life. He met me at my lowest and restored me with His love and mercy. Today, I walk in His light, forever grateful for the grace that saved me.

This is my story—a testament to God’s unfailing love and the transformative power of His presence. If He could reach me at my worst, He can reach anyone. Never lose hope, for His light shines brightest in the darkest moments.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Brother Hoon