
Episode #32
When All Is Lost, Everything Is Gained | Maddie's Story
She had three DUIs in two and a half years. She'd buried her grandfather two days before the last one. That night, alone in a holding cell, 24-year-old Maddie was done. She was ready to give up on life itself. Then God spoke: "I need you to fight this fight." Instead of taking her own life, Maddie said, "Lord, take my life." And He did. In this raw, honest conversation, Maddie shares how she went from losing her grandmother and her faith at age six to growing up as the daughter of alcoholics and workaholics. When sports, the only healthy addiction she'd ever known, were taken from her, she filled the emptiness with weed, alcohol, opioids, ecstasy, acid and anything else that would numb the pain. She survived a highway motorcycle crash, overdoses and six months in jail, including a week in segregation. But in that cell block, she started reading her Bible every day, leading prayer before meals and bringing the presence of the Lord into one of the darkest places imaginable. Maddie then chose the hardest road: a nine-month stay at Adult & Teen Challenge, a strict faith-based recovery program. Today she is more than 18 months sober, her family is closer than it has ever been, and she says God has done more in those 18 months than in the 24 years before them. Sarah and Maddie get real about what surrender actually means: taking off the coat of labels the world puts on you (alcoholic, criminal, addict) and putting on what God calls you, which is redeemed, loved and worthy. They talk about why the devil wants you stuck in your past, why following Jesus isn't a yellow brick road, and why the people who hurt your feelings with the truth are the ones worth keeping. Maddie also shares what her daily walk looks like as a new believer, and why God will take your one verse a day. If you're still in it, saying, "I want to stop, but I can't," Maddie has a question for you: "What do you have to lose that you haven't already lost?" You are not alone. You are never too far gone. This is not the end of your story. It's the beginning of your rescue. Scriptures in this episode: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 8:1, Jeremiah 29:11, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 2:21, Philippians 3:7-12, Ephesians 6, Matthew 16:23, James 4:14, Psalm 1 RESOURCES MENTIONED: RightNow Media (video Bible studies Maddie listens to, often free through your church): https://www.rightnowmedia.org Adult & Teen Challenge (faith-based recovery): https://teenchallengeusa.org If you are having thoughts of ending your life, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) to talk with someone right now. Read Maddie's bio at https://addictedtogodpod.com CONNECT WITH SARAH Schedule with Sarah: https://sarahannieschneider.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannieschneider/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AddictedToGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahAnnieSchneider Substack: https://substack.com/@sarahannieschneider Has Jesus transformed your life? Sarah is always looking for guests who have transferred their addiction to Him. Email your story to addictedtogodpod@gmail.com #AddictedToGod #ChristianPodcast #RecoveryStory #FaithAndRecovery #SobrietyJourney #Testimony #JailMinistry #TeenChallenge #AddictionRecovery #Redeemed #NativeAndChristian #ChristianTestimony #Sober #Surrender #FaithOverFear #JesusSaves

