Darkness and Plans
Lacey Sturm grew up in a home marked by addiction, abuse, and brokenness. Her grandmother struggled with mental illness. Her mother battled addiction. Lacey herself was sexually abused as a child.
By age sixteen, she was suicidal. She had planned the day she would end her life. The darkness felt complete and inescapable.
That day, a friend invited her to church. Lacey went, planning to mock the Christians before she killed herself. She sat in the back, arms crossed, full of rage.
Liquid Love
But something happened during worship. Lacey felt a presence she couldn't explain. She later described it as "liquid love" pouring over her. The Holy Spirit was invading her darkness.
When the pastor spoke, he suddenly stopped mid-sentence. He looked directly at Lacey and said, "There's a young woman here who thinks she's trash and wants to end her life. But God sent me to tell you that you're not trash - you're His daughter, and He has a purpose for your life."
Lacey fell apart. Nobody knew her story. Nobody knew her plans. But Jesus did.
The Generational Curse Ended
That night, Lacey gave her life to Christ. The suicide plans evaporated. Over the following years, Jesus systematically broke every chain of her past - the abuse, the lies, the patterns of destruction that had plagued her family for generations.
Lacey went on to become the lead singer of Flyleaf, a Christian rock band that has ministered to millions of hurting people. She has written books about God's deliverance. She has spoken to teenagers on the edge of suicide.
The generational curse ended with her. Her children are being raised in the love of Jesus. What the enemy stole, Jesus restored - and then some.
"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters." - Psalm 18:16