Announcer: 0:01

It's time now to get the Hell Out of Your Life, a weekly broadcast with real people, sharing real struggles, and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire, and empower you to face life's challenges with a fold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, Ron Myers, the provider.

Ron Meyers: 0:22

Hello, my friends. It is so good to be with you. I watched the 2026 Olympics with fascination. Excellence on display, discipline on display, sacrifice on display. The world's greatest athletes stepping onto the biggest stage. Years of unseen training for one shining moment. And as I watched them chase gold medals, I couldn't help but think you and I were in a race too. Not a race for applause, not a race for endorsement deals, and not a race for temporary glory. We are running for eternal gold. Because while Olympians have coaches pushing them toward physical greatness, we have the ultimate coach, Jesus. Not a coach who condemns, not a coach who shames, and not a coach who keeps a scoreboard of your failures, but a coach who leads with love, corrects with grace, and is always forgiving. Today's guest, Ashley, will show you what it looks like when you finally listen to your coach. Her race didn't start on a podium. It started with wanting to fit in. It slid into heroin, homelessness, motel rooms, overdoses. But the story doesn't end there. Because when Jesus leads us, good things happen. Ashley's rescue wasn't flashy. It was messy. A strange robbery of an empty house, a drug court indictment, a shelter filled with people who quietly showed up with rides, church pews, cheeseburgers, and love that lingered. So if you've ever felt disqualified, if someone you love looks like they've dropped out of the race, then you need to listen to today's show. Because this isn't just Ashley's story, it's proof that you were created for gold.

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 2:33

Well, it it changes a lot. So spent a life chasing heroin, did that for many years, was homeless, just all the things, in and out of jail, you know, just all the stuff that goes with it from motel to motel. Didn't have anything to do with my kids, just made heroin my God for you know about eight or nine years of my life.

Ron Meyers: 2:57

What age did that start?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 2:59

I had started doing drugs when I was about twelve or thirteen years old. Oh my goodness.

Ron Meyers: 3:05

You're supposed to be playing with Barbie dolls at that time and going to gymnastic classes, and you were doing heroin.

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 3:11

Yeah, well, heroin came in about my twenties and in my twenties is when I was introduced to the one that would really get me.

Ron Meyers: 3:21

Was it the uh the thrill? How you felt? Were you hiding something? Were you hiding from pain? Did you just want to escape reality? What caused you to be in addiction all those years?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 3:34

I wanted to fit in, you know, and I always felt different. I was a fat, chubby kid. I got made fun of a lot, and it was an escape, you know. When I when I found heroin, it was the escape, you know, like no other.

Ron Meyers: 3:50

Were were friends or family trying to intervene and say, Ashley, get your act together?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 3:56

Yeah, yeah. They I mean they court ordered me to treatment. I've been to like 13 treatment centers. I've been to the cycle. That was my favorite place to go, was detox. So I've been to that like over 20 times. Yeah, so they did. They tried. My dad was actually fighting cancer, and he would have to, you know, drive from Memphis a few hours away. And I mean, he had full-blown cancer, and I'd be an ICU on life support, you know. So I overdosed all the time. I mean, it was uh it was a whole different life back then, you know. I I didn't want I didn't care if I lived or or died anymore, you know. Only if I got high. That's that's all I cared for.

Ron Meyers: 4:38

Now, how did you support your habit?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 4:40

I would sell my body to uh get high when we rob people. Actually, God's divine intervention my in my life was robbing a house in broad daylight that didn't even have anything in it, you know. That's how I would later be saved, really. You know, that's how he intervened for me.

Ron Meyers: 5:00

What happened where God intervened?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 5:02

We got indicted for robbing that house in the broad daylight. And I I would end I ended up getting drug court for that. And then drug court, you know, they send you to treatment and all the things, and and during that whole process, my parents, man, I always thought I had time to, you know, do better. And anyway, while dealing with drug court, I had sobered up and my dad was at the end of his cancer deal. And anyway, he he passed away. You know, I was in my 13th treatment center. The last thing he ever said to me was, You're gonna do it this time, sweetie. I I believe in you. And man, I was saying a lot for somebody like me, you know, because then nobody believe in me anymore.

Ron Meyers: 5:46

So his last breath was speaking prophecy and hoping to you that, hey, you're going to beat this one day.

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 5:54

Yeah, yep, yep, it was. And so I went back to treatment and then I had some teeth issues, so they were gonna let me out of treatment even though I wasn't done. And that was the first time I ever got honest. I told my PO, he was like, Where do you want to go, Arendelle? They're not gonna let you stay here anymore. And uh at that time, you know, my mom lived at the motel. I mean, we just all lived at this horrible, you know, drugged up motel. And uh, we had a you know, this room, it was 212 travel in. And every ounce of my body wanted to say, 212 travel in, you know, come get me and take me there. And uh, I got honest and I said, you know, Sullivan, I I have nowhere to go that you're not gonna have to come take me to prison. So they put me in a homeless shelter and and God prepared me. I stayed in a huge homeless shelter by myself. And anyway, 37 days after my dad died, my mom, while I was at that homeless shelter, got ran over and hit by a car, just real out of nowhere, and that was just right after, you know.

Ron Meyers: 7:06

Boy, things were really happening. Your dad dies, then your mom gets run over by a car, you're in a treatment center all by yourself. Did they get darker or did they start did you start seeing the light somewhere?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 7:19

It was light, you know. I started seeing God moving in a way that that he was preparing me, you know. I mean, he just set me at that homeless shelter, sober, all by myself, surrounded by all these good godly people, you know, that would come get me and take me to church or you know, just all these different things. It is almost like you could just see, like like I was in a little bubble or something that God had just put me in this bubble to prepare me for what was to come, you know?

Ron Meyers: 7:52

Wow. When you would get up in the morning and you know, take your shower and get all cleaned up, and then you look in the mirror, was there something that you just said, Who who is this person? What happened to me?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 8:06

At that point, you know, I mean, I just thought, man, like you're just a monster. Like I just had no idea who I was, you know, just lost, broken, you know, just so gone.

Ron Meyers: 8:18

Just so in that moment before you started paying attention to God, did you actually believe that there was hope for you?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 8:29

Absolutely not. No. Uh-uh. And I could hear hope stories, and I mean, my exact thought would be, well, that's real good for you, but that'll never happen for a junkie like me.

Ron Meyers: 8:40

So your identification to you was you were a junkie, and there's nothing that you were beyond hope, huh? Is that is that what you thought? You were beyond hope, and you're just gonna end up dying like your mom and dad one of these days?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 8:53

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

Ron Meyers: 8:55

But then the light started coming in. And tell us about that light and how how the change started happening and what you're up to today.

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 9:04

I just, you know, I was surrounded by so many good people, and I finally heard somebody say something, and I thought, man, maybe I can, you know, maybe I can do this too, you know.

Ron Meyers: 9:18

What did they say?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 9:19

She really just told her story, and and that that was enough. You know, I I'd finally heard somebody tell me they had been as far down as I had been and could relate.

Ron Meyers: 9:31

So they got honest and transparent, just like you did a little time before that. There's something about honesty with us sharing our struggles with others, and then when we share that honesty with God, there's something that happens to me. It was I just knew it was a breakthrough. I didn't know exactly what, but I knew that God did love me and God had a plan. Anything like that happened to you?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 9:55

Yeah, I knew God loved me, knew, knew that he'd carried me, that he had set people up, that that he had, you know, gone before and and knew how this was gonna turn out, you know, and all those things that I thought, you know, why is this happening to me? And I mean, that's the only thing I held on to the homeless at the homeless shelter was God, you got some purpose behind this. There's some something I don't know that you're gonna use behind this, you know, and he did, you know. I I've been able to tell people, you know, man, that sucks. I'm so sorry you lost your aunt, or I'm so sorry your brother died, man. But you don't you don't have to get high over that. You don't have to use over that. And then I can tell them why that I know that.

Ron Meyers: 10:41

So if you were in line today at a grocery store, maybe a fast food restaurant, and you saw one of the guys or someone outside the door just laying there begging for money, and you knew they were a junkie, would you say anything to them or how what would you think?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 11:00

Well, this does happen where I live at. I mean, th those little things do happen. I love them, man. You never know the the seed that we plant just by loving somebody or telling somebody, man, hey, God loves you. You want you want one of these cheeseburgers that I got, you know, because man, love goes a long way.

Ron Meyers: 11:20

Boy, that's beautiful. It sure does, Ashley. And well, I've got to ask you, I mean, I had an email that you wanted to share your story with my audience. Uh, how did you find out about me?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 11:33

One of the sober living houses that that I went to along the way was called Stillwaters in in Pasagoula, Mississippi. And uh, Ricky, he Ricky Charlton, he he runs this. It's not, you know, he he funds it and all the things. It's it's kind of rare this day and time. He he listens to your radio show, and ever since I've been sober, you know, I go back to Ricky's at least a couple times a year. He has an annual Christmas party and I I go stay there just like I I did many years ago, except for I I do I have, you know, my own house and my my family and all the stuff, but but I take time away to go stay with Ricky and and go to those meetings that I went to, you know, all those years ago and have the fellowship and and be reminded because you have people coming in just like I was several years ago who who don't have a social security car, they don't have a driver's license, they haven't helped, you know, had a job. I mean, just those little things that that we can forget once we've, you know, built our life back up. We can forget how small it started out, you know, and it and it's just it's such a godly place. And so yeah, he listens to your radio show. And since I've I had not gotten to go in a while, I got sick, I got cancer, and so I I got to go visit him recently, you know, and uh because that's I mean, the book was I never thought that I would be writing a book about anything, you know. But I got sick, man, and I had I had to talk to God because I really didn't understand, you know, after eight years of being in recovery, being in a new life, pouring into people, going places, speaking, you know, just you name it, you know what I'm saying? It's extending my hand to to help anybody find a new way of life, like being in church, celebrate recovery, all the things. And I I again was right back to why would you do this to me? You know, why God would you do this to me?

Ron Meyers: 13:40

Did you ever get that answer?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 13:42

Yes. Yeah. Man, we get refined through the fire, you know. We get refined through the fire, and you know, we have a father that that will sit us still, you know, so he can use us to glorify him. And I I don't know about some people, but man, this daughter right here, you know, I'm not gonna do it. I mean, you gotta slow me down and wake me up, you know. I need big signs, you know. That's what uh one of my friends, she calls me her angel on earth, and she always says, God just gives Arendelle these big signs. And like, you know, like it's something special, and I'll say, that's because God knows Arendelle's a big stubborn dummy, and it takes a big, you know, billboard sign. So we went on a trip to process the cancer in in Alabama, and everybody wanted me to go to MD Anderson because it was it was such a big tumor and and and so rare. And she said, Ashley, are you gonna you gonna do it in Jackson or are you gonna go to MD Anderson? And I said, Man, if if Jackson calls me and it's quicker than going to Texas, I said, I'm gonna go wherever's quicker unless God gives me some big sign. And I mean, as soon as I got it out of my mouth, there's this huge billboard and it says, This is your sign from God.

Ron Meyers: 15:14

Wow.

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 15:15

You know?

Ron Meyers: 15:15

Wow, yeah, and uh it's amazing sometimes, Ashley. I'll tell people that if we look in the rear view mirror of our life, we see now that God was with us when we never even knew it. Do you ever think about things like that?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 15:32

Absolutely, yes. He he is there, he's already come before, you know, and and if we look for it, you know, he even gives us the signs that show, you know, I've already been here, I already know how this is going, you know.

Ron Meyers: 15:47

Boy, it's amazing, Ashley, listening to you, and you have joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength. You have some laughter, and then here at the beginning of the story, you're 12 years old, when you start into drugs and it leads to a life of just a lot of chaos. I think your story is telling people there is hope beyond dope. Is that right?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 16:11

That's it, man. That's the hope shot. You know, hold on, pain ends, and and life is there is a flip side, you know. No matter how bad you think you are, if you're the worst of the worst, man, that there's nothing that God can't conquer, you know, there's no miracle he he can't do.

Ron Meyers: 16:30

Amen. Well, you know, right now there are parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, moms, dads, daughters, sons listening that they are dealing with addiction in their life, maybe not themselves, but a family member, and they have tuned in and they hear this. What hope would you give anybody listening right now that's dealing with similar circumstances?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 16:54

You know, my aunt, she is she completely threw the towel with me for for every good reason, you know. But she tells me all the time that her biggest testimony today at all her church things that she's in is, you know, you don't give up hope on anybody. You don't label somebody a lost cause. And uh, and that is her testimony because of me today that she gets to tell people, you know, we as humans don't get to say, you know, that's too far gone, or that there's no redemption story that's gonna happen there. Wow because we don't have the power to say that, you know, only God has that. And uh when you read the Bible and look at all the people, you would have thought, like, really, you know, that's who you used, you know? And but it is. That's who he used, you know. That that was the people that he handpicked, and it was not people from a human perception that anybody would have picked, you know, and that's who God uses the most.

Ron Meyers: 17:57

Well, how is Ashley doing today? How's the cancer?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 18:01

Well, they they've got the cancer out of my stomach, and it and it was a journey and and and I learned a lot through it. We're actually we just had a winter storm. Yeah, so no electricity, no hot water, man. And there's a part in literature recovery that says living skills are reduced to the animal level. And I quote that a lot in recovery, and uh and I've been quoting it a lot lately because it's been crazy with no electricity. But yeah, we go back to Houston to deal with whatever's, you know. I think there's some stuff in my neck, and uh I don't know, man. I'm just not that uh, you know, God brought me out of heroin. I mean, I we'd be on the phone all day if we talked about how many times I overdosed.

Ron Meyers: 18:47

I mean, he brought me off life support, and then I mean You know, I was just gonna say when God starts something in this, he's going to see it done to completion. He's not through it to you. Ashley, and you are just a bright light of encouragement. I am so glad that you met Ricky, who I've never met, in Pascagoula. He told you about the show. You sent me a note, and now you and I are talking, and your story will literally go around the world. And so God is definitely using you. And I want to I I just want to thank you. Thank you for reaching out. And I know I had a flu. You and I were supposed to talk a couple weeks ago, and I had got the flu, but you were kind and sending me little encouragement and hoping I was praying that I was doing better. And I am so excited. You have to keep us posted on your journey, and I will pass that on to the listeners, and we'll do a follow-up after you beat all this cancer. And then uh who knows, we might see on TV.

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 19:45

Yes, and and Ron, I do want to say the Ashes to Ash book, though, it is not my story. It is a daily devotional with prayer, scripture, cries to God. It it's just modern day psalms. You'll have to be in recovery to feel God in this book. So if you do know somebody that needs a shot of hope, you know, that that is the book to get them.

Ron Meyers: 20:08

Well, I'm so glad to throw that out there. How can they get a copy of your book? And are you on social media?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 20:17

I'm on social media on Facebook, it's Ash Arundel, and then this book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble. It's Ashes to Ash, a 30-day hope shot delivered by the Holy Spirit by Ashley Arendelle. And so it it's it's all over, but definitely Amazon. I feel like is the easiest way to get a copy of it.

Ron Meyers: 20:41

Amen. Thank you. Now, Ashley, one thing I like to ask my listeners, the title of the show is Get the Hell Out of Your Life. So I'm gonna ask you, Ashley, how do you get the hell out of your life?

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 20:53

I remind myself that it's nothing to do with me, and it's all God, and I tell myself, move out of the way.

Ron Meyers: 21:03

Amen. All right, and now one of those Ashley's big faith, God has assigned prayers.

Ashley Arendale Murphy: 21:11

Oh, Jehovah Jirah, Father God, Lord, I just I thank you, Father. I thank you for your peace, Father God, and I I thank you for just saving us from ourselves, Father God, and that you always have a plan, Father. I thank you for moving out of the way, Father God, for your plan, Father. And I just pray that if there's anybody, Father, that's just hopeless, God, that that just thinks that someone can't be resurrected back to life, Father, that you speak life into them right now, Father God. In the mighty name of you, Jehovah Jireh God, you provide, and we're so grateful for that, Father. Amen.

Ron Meyers: 21:49

You know, watching the Olympics, I saw athletes who refused to quit when the training hurt. Ashley's story reminded me that spiritual endurance looks the same. Her father's last words, You're gonna do it this time, sweetie. That wasn't condemnation. That was belief. That was encouragement. And belief can be the push off the starting block. Ashley made one honest decision not to return to that same motel room. One step, one lap. And here's the truth, my friend. We all have setbacks, false starts, disqualifying moments, but our coach doesn't bench us. Jesus doesn't shame you for falling. He trains you to stand again. Ashley didn't just get sober, she rebuilt her life brick by brick, ideas, work, and fellowship. She returned to Stillwaters and Pascagoula, not as a statistic, but as a servant. Now that's gold. Then Cancer tried to rewrite her story. Old fear knocked, but deeper conviction answered. Refinement through fire. When Jesus is leading, friend, even detours have purpose. Even pain becomes preparation. Even diagnosis becomes discipline. Rock bottom isn't bedrock. Redemption is.

Announcer: 23:16

You're listening to Get the Hell Out of Your Life with your host, Ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles, and real hope. What's your story? We're looking for stories of hope and overcoming life's struggles with God's grace. Your story validates God's love, mercy, restoration, and forgiveness. We want to help you share your story with the world. Visit our website, thepromoter.org, and click on the share your story link and submit your story. Your testimony of God's amazing grace will change a person's destiny for eternity. How do you get the hell out of your life? Get on your knees and cry out to the Lord. He hears you right where you are. How to get the hell out of your life? Well, yeah, replace it with Jesus. We got to be born again, born of the Spirit, and that's by trusting Jesus Christ, turning from our sins and trusting Jesus. How do you get the hell out of your life? Oh gosh.

Ron Meyers: 24:11

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Going to Jesus. Well, friends, as we close today's show, here's our takeaway. You are in a race. You have a coach, not one who condemns, not one that shames, not one keeping a highlight real of your worst failures, but one who leads with love, corrects with grace, restores with forgiveness. So here's some action steps for this week. Number one, train your heart. Spend five minutes listening to Coach Jesus. No noise, no distraction. I call it coffee with Jesus. Number two, take one discipline step. Ashley didn't rebuild everything in a day. She made one honest choice. What's yours? Number three, drop the label. Stop calling yourself what you used to be. Stop labeling others by their worst lap. Number four, encourage someone in their race. A ride, a cheeseburger, a kind word. Sometimes that's all it takes to keep someone from quitting. Because one day, on your final lap, you'll cross a finish line that makes every Olympic stadium look small. And you'll hear the words that matter most. Well done, good and faithful servant. That's the gold. Not a medal that fades, not applause that quiets, but eternal reward. So this is our time. This is our season. So, my friend, this week as you go out and walk in peace, walk in purpose, walk in passion, train your faith, condition your spirit, stay in step with your coach, because you were created for gold and heaven is watching. I'll be back next week with another Grace-Filled episode of Get the Hell Out of Your Life available wherever you listen to podcasts. Until next time, my friend, this is Ron Myers reminding you. With Jesus, you can get and keep the hell out of your life. See you next week.

Announcer: 26:39

Today's show was produced by Ron Myers Ministries, a listener-supported ministry. For a copy of today's broadcast, please visit our website, thepromoter.org. And would you prayerfully consider making a tax-deductible donation so that we may continue to share stories of God's amazing grace with the world? And join us next week for another broadcast of Get the Hell Out of Your Life. Real people, sharing real struggles, and offering real hope.

Speaker 4: 27:08

Hi, I'm Dr. Andrew Farley, host of the Grace Message. Got a Bible question, struggling with a personal issue, wondering about a tricky verse? At BibleQuestions.com, you'll get clear, grace-based answers in 10 seconds or less. No fluff, no confusion, just practical biblical truth. Ask anything, anytime, and experience the power of God's love. Visit BibleQuestions.com. That's BibleQuestions.com. Your go to for biblical clarity.