10/09/2024
Transparency: A Journey of Healing and Grace
There’s a saying that “time heals all wounds,” and while that may be true, there are some wounds that cut so deep they pe*****te your very soul. 25 years ago, my life changed forever. On October 7th, just before midnight, I lost my dad. He was a man who never bothered anyone, worked hard, valued his family, and without question, loved his boys. That night in U.N.C. Hospital, when I heard, “your dad didn’t make it,” I was only 12 years old.
In that moment, everything went numb. I had to grow up fast—angry, disappointed, sad, and empty, with questions for God that I wasn’t sure I would ever get answers to. Every day, I tried to find strength. On the outside, it looked like I was healing. I excelled in school, ran track, and pushed through life, but the truth is, I was masking the pain. I was still that broken 12-year-old boy, picked on and talked about, trying to grow up too fast.
Fast forward, and people look at my life now—what I’ve accomplished through God’s grace—and they see a man standing strong. But the truth is, I’m still on the journey. I had questions for God, but He didn’t abandon me. Instead, He established me, settled me in faith, and anointed me to preach the gospel. Ministry saved my life.
When you see me praising God, when you see me shedding tears, it’s not because I’ve “arrived.” It’s because I’ve made it through another day that wasn’t promised. God is still healing me. He’s still maturing and grooming me for His purpose. I’m a work in progress, and the strongest people often face the hardest battles.
If my story helps you, know that we are not alone in this journey. We all have struggles, tests, and trials, but through Jesus Christ, God has already given us the victory. So don’t give up. We are healing together. I’ll pray for you, and you pray for me. Together, we’ll make it. 🙏
+Darren Brantley Jr.