Friday, April 24, 2026

For much of his early life, Derrick Wilson says he felt driven by a single desire: to be noticed.

As a child, that need often showed itself in negative ways—pulling pranks, acting out, and bullying his younger brother. While the behavior drew attention, it was usually followed by something heavier. 

That emptiness intensified as Derrick grew older, leading to prolonged periods of depression and emotional emptiness. Eventually, he reached what he now describes as the lowest point of his life. He began questioning his worth and, at times, considered harming himself.

An unexpected shift occurred during this dark season. While scrolling through social media, Derrick began noticing Christian content appearing repeatedly in his feed—videos from people openly sharing their struggles, failures, and faith. What stood out to him wasn’t their success, but their peace.

Motivated by curiosity and desperation, Derrick prayed a simple, honest prayer. “I asked, ‘God, are you real? Are you here? Do you really exist? If you are, tell me.’”

He describes what followed as an emotional and spiritual breakthrough. Derrick says he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and an overwhelming sense of love he had never experienced before. “I bawled my eyes out,” he recalled. “That moment, I knew God was real.”

Soon after, Derrick bought a Bible and began reading it regularly. He says Scripture helped him understand a foundational truth of Christianity—that God’s love is not earned through good behavior, but given freely through Jesus’ sacrifice.

“Over time, I learned that once you're Christian, you still mess up – you're still human,” he said. “Going through that, God has taught me that even through my mistakes its not based on performance, it’s based on what he did for me on the cross.”

Today, Derrick says his faith has given him a renewed sense of worth and direction. Where he once felt numb and purposeless, he now feels called to help others.

He wants to be a reminder that no one is too far gone; God loves you. Jesus already paid the price. He just wants a relationship with us.

Derrick continues to grow in his faith and hopes his story encourages others who feel stuck in darkness. 

Knowing you’re chosen changes the way you live.

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