The Question Behind Unfair Pain

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 bold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, Ron Myers, the promoter.

Ron Meyers 0:21

Hello, my friends. It is so good to be with you today. I'm Ron Myers, and the question for today is this What do you do when something happens to you that you absolutely had no control of? You didn't cause it, you didn't choose it, you couldn't prevent it, and yet you have to live with the consequences. Well, today you're going to meet an overcomer named Jaclyn Williams. Before Jacqueline was born, a drug called thylidamide changed the course of her life. Thylidomide was given to pregnant women during the 50s and 60s to relieve mourning sickness. Jacqueline's mother was given the drug while she was pregnant, and Jacqueline was born with serious physical challenges and would spend much of her childhood enduring surgeries, hospitals, braces, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs. Doctors told her family she might never walk or even reach adulthood. But the doctors don't get the final word. Jacqueline was determined to walk. She was determined to live. And somewhere along the way she discovered that the miracle wasn't simply what God could do for her, the miracle was what God could do through her. Today Jacqueline walks. She has endured more than two dozen major surgeries, including heart surgery, and she has taken a lifetime of adversity and turned it into a testimony of God's faithfulness. That's why today's story is about more than surviving, it's about overcoming. Let's take a listen to my conversation with Jacqueline Williams.

Thalidomide And A Childhood Of Surgeries

SPEAKER_00 2:00

My story is that everybody's come into the agreement and alignment to know that you can't do anything in your own strength. It takes God to bring you out of every adversity that you may face, that you could be that overcomer.

Ron Meyers 2:18

So, Jaclyn, I know you went through a lot of adversity, and it started when you were born. Tell the listeners what you have been through in life.

SPEAKER_00 2:27

Well, I was uh born with uh birth of fat, and it was caused by a drug called thalenamide, and it was taken back in the 1950s and 60s, and it was also put on the market in the 50s, and this drug was put on the market by a pharmacy company in Germany, and this drug it was marketed in 24 countries, and it was for women who uh had real bad morning sickness by pregnancy. This drug was an a drug that was over the counter. You could get it uh without a prescription, and this drug caused a major catastrophe all over the world from uh with newborn babies.

Ron Meyers 3:16

Your mom took it with because she had morning sickness?

SPEAKER_00 3:20

Yes, yes. She had morning sickness and uh she went to this women's clinic. See, the FDA did not approve this drug in America. It was all it was in uh 45 countries, but it did not, FDA did not approve it in America. How it came over to America was by this man named Richard Morrell. He had a pharmacy company also in Europe. So he um distributed 2.5 million pills of the linamide to clinics and doctors' offices. And this is how my mother came in contact with this drug. She went to a women's clinic and they prescribed to her the drug called the linamide. The drug uh it killed a lot of babies back then, and those that survived this drug, it affected them. They had no ears, no eyes, no limbs, and no feet, and it destroyed their uh internal organs as well. So when I was born, my feet was turned backwards, and my mom had to lay me on a stretcher because of my legs and feet. And this lady by the name of Hazel Foster, she was an angel sent to help my parents. So she cared them to doctors, the doctors to see were there was there any hope for me. And a lot of the doctors said that I wouldn't walk, I would never walk or even reach the the age to be an adult. So they took me to Labonas Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. This hospital was for children that had chronic diseases, and also this is where they had all the surgeries. And uh there was hope for me by the grace of God. I don't know what age they began my first surgery, but they they were able to turn my feet back. I mean, you know, normal, but still I had a long process of a journey to be able to walk. I had uh 24 major surgeries. Hospitals was my home, away from home. I never did get to go home much. I never did go to public school much because of my uh scheduled numbers of surgeries. I had my last surgery when I was in uh the sixth grade. Today I'm 58 years old, and I stand four feet tall. I can walk without crutches because I I I had to go through crutches and braces and walkers and wheelchairs, and I stayed in the hospital. This uh one hospital I stayed in was Cripple Children's Hospital. And this was like a boarding school. God made a way for me to go to school there as well. And the doctors and nurses, they took very good care of me and the children that was there. This hospital was for children that their parents could leave them there that, you know, that came from a long distance, had to travel. Like me and my parents, they had to take me from Mississippi all the way to Tennessee. That was about an hour and 45 minutes. So my father, my mother left me with my father, so he had to finally just leave me there. And um that's where I say that God began to really work with me when I was little. I've been through so many tests and trials. We can't carry our circumstances, we can't carry all this that we're going through, but Jesus can carry if we allow him. Just give it to him. And I guess you say, Jackie, how do you give these problems and situations and all that's going on out there that got me frustrated? Allow God to, when I say give it to him, you can talk to God all day long. He's never busy. You can tell him about yourself, you can tell him about your problems, and just allow him to release you from those problems. Let him work it out. You you can you can you can talk to him. I might be busy all the time, but God's never busy. And he knows you, he knows what we need, and he knows who to place in your life to be a blessing to you, to help to you. Just allow God to come into your life and let go and let God and let him allow him. If you've been hurt, allow him to give you an inner healing and deliver you so you could be free and move forward in the things of God, and that he will heal you, he will deliver you, and he will always be there for you. And that's what we all are looking for, amen. So I I've been through a lot. As I say, I'm 59 now, and I can walk without anything, and I walk with a limp and I can't bend my legs. And I had uh heart surgery because of the lintomite. I had a major uh heart murmur, and I had to do immediate open heart surgery.

How Trials Become A Testimony

Ron Meyers 8:31

If God didn't reach out to you, where would your hope have come from?

SPEAKER_00 8:37

It wouldn't have come from anywhere because our hope is only in God and He did a miracle for me, you know. And and I had to go through that, you know. We have to go through a lot of things. We have to, because if we didn't, we wouldn't even know the power of God, which he displayed his power in my life. We wouldn't know who he was if we never had a, you know, a test to make a testimony out of it. So I had to go through that in order to tell you today where I am now about what he can do. And I want people, you know, he had me to write a book over commerce which is available on Amazon to allow people to see the display of his power in my life when the devil tried to take my life, but God knew I had purpose.

Abuse, Rejection, And Inner Healing

Ron Meyers 9:28

Here you are, four foot tall, 59 years old, but yet you are full of hope and optimism with God. So, what is it that God has called you to do? What is your purpose? What have you discovered God wants you to do with your life?

SPEAKER_00 9:43

Well, I well, as I uh grew older and I've been through uh abuse and rejection and manipulation. I had to go through all of that, and uh so God was dealing with me, how I I grew up without uh experiencing love because I didn't have my parents in my life. And so I was looking for love in all the wrong places that could have cost my life. And one day, God, I heard the voice of God tell me, Jackie, nobody can love you like I can. So I said, All right, God, you said you can't, you're the only one that can love me, and nobody can love me like you can. I'm gonna try you out. And so when he did that, you know, I didn't know how to love God. I didn't know how to love myself. And so I just went on and went on. He allowed me to go on and go on until I hit a brick wall and finally surrendered my life to him. And I, you know, I had to uh bury my past. I had to walk away from my past and ask God to help me. You know, I told him I didn't have any unforgiveness toward anyone. I just wanted him to deliver me. It's me, oh Lord. Deliver me, you know, so I could be free, so I could move on. So he had to give me an inner healing and deliverance, which we all need, you know, when we go through things, you know, it's like, it's like uh a car accident. Always give this example. It's like coming out of a car accident. You came out of the car accident, you survived the car accident, but you still have the injuries. See, I went all through that, but I and God brought me out, but I still had the injuries. So he had to heal me from those injuries, the bleeding wounds and the hurt heart and all that. He had to deliver me for that so I could go on. So today I am a watchman, I am a prophet, I'm an intercessor. I love to help people, you know, especially the people where I came from, or the hurt, you know, people that's hurt and don't know their true identity in Christ.

Ron Meyers 12:04

You know, I love one thing you wrote to me. You said, I wasn't supposed to live, but I did. I wasn't supposed to walk, but I do. And every day I stand is proof that God still performs miracles. That's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 12:20

He still performs miracles because I am a witness of his miracle.

Peace In A Noisy World

Ron Meyers 12:24

You know, I don't know if you watch the news much, Jacqueline, but there's so much negativity out there. And do you ever feel that when you hear all these people that are whining and complaining after what you've gone through, maybe they should just chill out a little bit and let Jesus do what he does best, and that is to minister to them?

SPEAKER_00 12:43

See, you have to fully surrender to God, and you have to be in the presence of God, knowing that he's the only one who can give us the true joy and the satisfaction that we need. And when you're in the presence of God, no matter what's the noise around us, we still have that peace. That that noise and all the chaos don't bother us because we're in the presence of God of His peace. He left his peace with us. And see, when we have all these distractions, because this is all that is, it's all a lot of distractions to get people's minds off of God. And those that don't know God, the enemies is trying to keep them from getting to know their true identity and knowing who Christ really is. So he's after all of us, he wants us to be, you know, out of place in God or not know God if you don't know God. And that's just a lot of distractions, but you got to submit and surrender everything to God. And that's what I had to do. I had to surrender.

Ron Meyers 13:52

And then everything started falling in place, huh?

SPEAKER_00 13:55

Yes.

Ron Meyers 13:56

Now, Jacqueline, there's most likely somebody listening and said, Well, she just uh a lucky girl. God liked her more than me. He hasn't done anything in my life, and I'm not looking for him to do anything in my life. What would you tell a person that said that to you?

SPEAKER_00 14:14

First of all, you have to allow God to come in because he said in his word that he's knocking at the door of every heart. If you allow him to come in, he'll come in and suck with you. You have to allow God to come in and and and change your life and turn it around. He's not gonna make us do anything because he said, you know, I sit before you this day, death of life, you choose. So you have to choose and want Christ to come in. You know, we we depend on ourselves, we depend on other people, we because we are human, and that's what, you know, we this flesh wants the desires of this world. And, you know, there's temporary love out there, temporary peace, just temporary, and you have to keep on going out there searching and searching. But when you surrender your life to Christ and allow him to come in and bring order to your life and change it, he will do just that, but you got to allow him.

Fear Of The Future And God’s Plan

Ron Meyers 15:24

There are people that are worried about the future, they're not enjoying the beautiful gift that God has given them today, in the present. You know, maybe that's why it's called present. He wants us to enjoy today and not be fearful of the future. What would you tell someone that can't stop thinking about the future and that the world's falling all apart?

SPEAKER_00 15:46

Well, I tell them this, Ron. Jesus said in his word, He He He knows the thoughts that he thinks toward us. It's good and not evil, and he has a plan and a hope and a future for us. God is our future. God knows, God is the creator, and we are his creation, and he knows all about us. He knows everything about us, and he has a plan for our lives. Everything is set up in his plan. Connections to meet people, places, and who we are in the Lord. So we need to seek the Lord and not just reminisce out there about you know what's gonna happen next. But if you get in the face of the Lord and spend time in his word and spend time with him, you'll know exactly what's gonna take place in the future. You won't have fear.

Ron Meyers 16:41

Yeah, that sounds

Book, Podcast, And A Listener Prayer

Ron Meyers 16:43

so good. So so, Jacqueline, tell us a little bit about you. What what what are you doing now with your life? You've got your book, I believe you have a podcast. Oh, and one thing I was gonna ask you, how did you ever hear about me and my show because I got a letter from you?

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Well, how I began to know about you. I was just going on Google trying to find, you know, how to get my testimony as my book out there so the people can hear my story and I can tell it as well. And the Lord just led me to your your ministry.

Ron Meyers 17:18

Wow. Well, thank you, Jesus. You know, I pray every day, Lord, who am I going to meet? Who am I going to interview? And I let God send me the guest. Well, listen, you are you are a breath of encouragement and inspiration. Tell the listeners one more time the title of your book and where they can find it.

SPEAKER_00 17:39

It's Overcomer by Jacqueline Williams, and it's available on Amazon.

Ron Meyers 17:45

And how can they listen to your podcast?

SPEAKER_00 17:47

Oh, you can go on Spotify. It's called Overcomer Podcast Show.

Ron Meyers 17:53

Overcomer Podcast Show. Well, I tell you what, you've got me encouraged and inspired for today, and I know you've touched somebody out there, their heart, they needed to hear your testimony. And before we go, Jacqueline, will you pray for us, pray for the listeners, whatever the Lord has put on your spirit?

SPEAKER_00 18:12

Yes. Father, in the name of Jesus, everyone that's listening on the sound of my voice by your Holy Spirit, I ask you to meet them where they are, God, from all walks of life. Let them know whatever they have done, whatever they have been through, that you are the healer, you are the deliverer, you are the one that can set them free. You are a friend, and you do love them, oh God. When they're looking for love in the wrong places, Lord, nobody can love them like you. Lord, your love is not temporary, but it's eternal. Father, I ask you, oh God, to deliver them from every bondage that the enemy has changed them to, that they can be loose, they can be free, and they can be overcomers only in you. Lord, just touch them right now. And Lord, save those that are lost, oh God. Let them surrender and give them their lives to you, knowing that you love them and you have a hope and you have a future for them. If they seek you, oh God, your word says you they will find you, oh God, in the name of Jesus. I ask you to give them peace, oh God, in the midst of their adversities, oh God, and let them know, oh God, that they are not alone, that you are with them, oh God. You are a friend to the end. In Jesus' name, amen.

Surviving Versus Healing

Ron Meyers 19:40

Wow, what a story. Jacqueline could have spent her entire life asking, why me? Why was my mother given that drug? Why was I born this way? Why did I have to endure all those surgeries? Why did I have to spend so much of my childhood in hospitals? Those would have been understandable questions. But somewhere along the journey, Jacqueline discovered a better question. God, what can you do with this? That's where pain begins turning into purpose. That's where a trial becomes a testimony. That's where a survivor becomes an overcomer. I love the picture Jacqueline gave us during the interview. She compared emotional wounds to surviving a car accident. You may survive the accident, but you still carry the injuries. She realized God hadn't simply brought her through what happened, he wanted to heal the wounds that Jacqueline was carrying with her. Somebody listening today needs to hear that. Surviving is not necessarily healing. You can survive the divorce and still carry the rejection. You can survive the betrayal and still carry the anger. You can survive the childhood and still carry the hurt. You can survive the failure and still carry the shame. You can survive what happened yesterday and still allow it to control tomorrow. Jesus doesn't want you just to survive. He wants you free. Jacqueline finally reached a place where she surrendered her life and her wounds to God. And today she uses what she's been through to encourage people who are hurting and help them discover their identity in Christ. Think about that. The thing that could have destroyed her became part of the story she's now using to help somebody. That's purpose. That's Romans 828 in real life. God can take all the ingredients you never would have chosen and somehow work. Them together for good. Not because everything that happens to us is good, but because God is good and He's not through with writing your story. Here's what I want you to do today. Ask yourself one question. What am I still carrying that I need to give to Jesus? Maybe it was something that happened 10 years ago, maybe 50 years ago, maybe last week. You can't go backward and change what happened, but you can decide that what happened will no longer determine where you're going. Jacqueline said something so simple during our conversation. God is never too busy to listen. She encouraged people to talk to him about their problems, their hurts, their frustrations, and allow him to bring healing so they can move forward. So, friend, give it to him. And then ask, Jesus, how can you use this? Because there may be somebody waiting to hear the testimony that's being written through your trial right now. I will be back.

Christmas City Gift Show Spot

SPEAKER_07 23:20

From crafts to trees to sit so pretty. It's all my hair Christmas.

SPEAKER_02 23:49

Make plans now to attend the greatest show in the South. The 43rd annual Christmas City Gift Show returns November 13th through the 15th at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi. Tickets are on sale now at Christmas City Gift Show.com. Enter promo code Santa and receive $2 off your ticket. That's Christmas City Gift Show.com.

SPEAKER_07 24:11

Shop the magic, find the joy at Ron Meyer's Christmas city.

Announcer 24:20

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, you replace it with Jesus. We gotta 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 24:37

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Turn to Jesus.

Don’t Quit In The Middle

Ron Meyers 24:41

As I wrap up today, I want to remind you that being an overcomer doesn't mean you've never been knocked down. It doesn't mean you haven't cried. It doesn't mean you haven't questioned God. And it certainly doesn't mean life has been easy. But an overcomer means you decided that what happened to you would not become the end of the story that God is writing through you. Jacqueline wasn't supposed to walk. Today she walks. She wasn't expected to have the life she has today, but she's here, and now she's telling the world about the God who carried her through it. That's a testimony. And maybe today you're still somewhere in the middle of yours. Don't quit in the middle. The obstacle may be real, the pain may be real, the scars may be real, but Jesus is real too. And your story isn't over. If Jacqueline's story encouraged you today, will you do me a favor and share this episode with somebody who's going through a difficult season? People need to hear our testimony. They need to hear from somebody who has walked through the fire and can say, I made it through, and you can too. And if you've got a story of how God turned your pain into purpose, your mess into a message, or your trial into a testimony, I want to hear it. Go to the promoter.org and share your story with me. You never know. Your story may be exactly what somebody else has been praying to hear. 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, remember, you were created on purpose for a purpose by a God who loves you more than you can imagine. Now go live like you believe it and tell someone that God loves them.

Donation And Closing Credits

Announcer 26:56

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.

SPEAKER_01 27:18

Real people, sharing real struggles, and offering real hope.com.