Victory

Lauriel had finally reached her last day at a drug rehab clinic just outside of Columbia, South Carolina. She had previously gotten into some trouble with the police regarding a felony drug possession. This wasn’t Lauriel’s first rodeo with the law. She had been getting in trouble since the age of sixteen.

Lauriel’s mother and father died in a car accident when she was 14 years-old. She was devastated. Her parents loved her like no other. She was an only child who happened to be born to two parents that were also the only children of their parents. The only person that was alive was her mother’s mother, Nana Belle.

Nana Belle was the typical southern grandma. She spoiled Lauriel all of her life and made special treats for her all the time. Lauriel moved in with Nana Belle down in a little town called Tifton, Georgia shortly after her parents’ memorial service. Nana Belle made Lauriel feel right at home. She told Lauriel stories of how her mom and dad used to sneak around as kids. She also told Lauriel something she never knew.

“Lauriel,” Nana Belle said, “I can still remember the day you were born and your mother telling me that she and your father wanted me to name you. I named you Lauriel after the laurel tree, also called the sweet bay tree. The tree symbolizes victory. I know that this situation is tough for you, but in the end you’ll have victory. Don’t worry because GOD has already shown me.”

A year had past and things were beginning to become normal for Lauriel again. Lauriel had adjusted well to the Tifton community.

One day after leaving the local diner after school, Lauriel walked a couple of blocks to Nana Belle’s. She entered the house and called out to her grandmother as usual. There was no response. She figured Nana Belle was out back tending to her garden. As Lauriel entered the kitchen, she saw Nana Belle lying lifeless across the floor. Nana Belle had passed away. Again Lauriel was devastated.

Because Lauriel was only sixteen, soon to be seventeen, she became a ward of the state. Lauriel spiraled downhill. She sought attention and affection in all of the wrong places. This is where her bout with drugs and other petty criminal behaviors began.

By the age of 22, Lauriel had been arrested several times for minor drug violations. Eventually, she was sentenced to a year in a state prison for drug possession. She had a lot of time to think of her parents and her grandmother. She remembered the lessons her parents taught her from the Bible. She began to pray more and ask GOD to help her. She focused on the word victory that she had tattooed on her arm after Nana Belle’s death. The Bible became her consolation and her moral compass. Lauriel was determined to make amends with GOD and see to it that Nana Belle’s vision of her victory came to fruition.

When Lauriel was released from prison, she had been led by prayer to check herself into a drug rehab center. She received the final tools to kick her habit. On the final day, Lauriel’s nurse told her that GOD is going to use her to change lives. “Don’t ask me what it means,” the nurse said; “Just walk in faith and you will complete your task.”

When Lauriel was released, she couldn’t wait to go to church. When Sunday morning finally came, she drew stares and whispers as she entered the church. Some of the members still associated her with the person Lauriel used to be. Their judgement hurt Lauriel, but she managed to focus her attention on GOD and not her embarrassment.

As Lauriel sat in the pews, a soft voice in her spirit urged her to unchain herself from the pain of the past. She rose from her seat and entered into the isle. The congregation appeared to be taken aback by her subtle action. She stood before the church and said, “Today I will gain victory by leaving my burdens at the cross with my Heavenly Father.”

She began giving her testimony. She told of the losses of everyone that meant anything to her. She told of her experiences as a foster child. She told of her spiral into the drug world and the many things that resulted from it. She told of being sentenced to prison. Finally, Lauriel told of her greatest accomplishment, which was finding her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ within prison walls.

Lauriel understood now what victory was. She said to the congregation, “I am Victory today! My GOD has allowed my world to crumble, that he may rebuild me anew. I have been restored and rewarded with spiritual wealth today.”

Tears could be seen streaming down the faces of her onlookers. Those who judged Lauriel now looked upon her with admiration and a feeling of conviction. She was embraced by many and moved by their sincerity. As she closed her eyes, she felt those chains break and a feeling of elevation. She could hear her parents and Nana Belle rejoicing and crying tears of joy from the heavens. Lauriel smiled and whispered to herself, “So this is what victory feels like…”

Lauriel went on to become a well-recognized speaker nationwide, and she wrote a best seller, ‘Victory: A Second Chance in Christ.’ She dedicated her book to her parents and Nana Belle.

Today’s Beacon of Light Scriptures:

3. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 

4. and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 

5. and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the  Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5).   

Today’s Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for your divine presence and purpose in our lives. There are many things that seem far too great in our lives to handle, but by our faith in You, our reward is victory. Give us strength and courage O’GOD in the face of our tribulations, and continue to anchor us in salvation Lord. May Your love and grace cover us all of our days. In Jesus name, Amen…