EP 25: John Ward — From Cycles Of Self-Destruction To Finding Self-Worth Through God

Mar 22, 2021

Growing up with an abusive father led John Ward to believe at an early age that his life had little worth. There was no escape from the abuse — mental, physical, and emotional — that he endured. Ultimately, he’d seek that escape at every turn in life after dropping out of high school at age 16 to pop pills, fight and steal with his friends. 

 

One particularly bad fight led John to military school in exchange for the jail time he was facing. There, he started to feel the first glimmer of self-worth he’d ever known in life, but still left the military feeling embittered by its lack of accountability for those in power. After that, it was back to a self-destructive lifestyle, one marked by violence, cocaine addiction, and membership in an outlaw motorcycle gang. 

 

“I was a victim. I was a victim no matter what the circumstance. I had no self-worth… And what that does to somebody, not feeling worthy, is it will lead you into places you never would have expected yourself to be in.” 

 

One of those places, John was horrified to discover, was repeating the cycle of his own father’s hostility with his wife, their daughter, and his step-children. Still, saddled as he was by drug addiction and little will to live, John couldn’t find the motivation to change his life. Until God reentered it unexpectedly. 

 

In this episode of True North Man, Paul and John talk about the power of finding self-worth through God and breaking free of the cycles of your past. 

 

What You’ll Learn:

• How the idea he’d never be good enough became a poison that nearly ruined John’s life
• What’s helped him maintain his sobriety for five years
• How John and his wife, through the church and marital counseling, changed their family dynamic to one of love and mercy 
• And much more!

 

Favorite Quote:

“Life isn’t guaranteed to be easy. But with God on your side, struggles don’t seem like so much of a struggle. Your problems aren’t so big. There’s nothing insurmountable.” 

— John Ward

 

How To Get Involved:

Discover all that Paul Beam has to offer at www.true-north-ministries.com 

 

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