Tag Archives: Testimony

There’s Only One Addiction Worth Having — And It Just Might Change Your Life

Posted in Reflections From My Heart by

What if the very thing that’s been controlling you could actually save you?

That’s not a trick question. It’s the heartbeat of my life and ministry.

My name is Sarah Annie Schneider. For over a decade I’ve sat with women behind bars — women most of the world has written off — listening to stories of addiction, regret, shame, and brokenness. For the past three years I’ve also led a women’s support group where I’ve watched God begin to heal wounded hearts, one honest conversation at a time.

In all those years, one truth has become crystal clear:

Most people don’t lack the desire to know God. They just don’t know where to start. And more importantly, they’re longing for real connection with people who love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

The Vision Behind Addicted to God

The Vision Behind Addicted to God

It actually started back in 2007 with a blog called Live Out Loud. What began as my personal space to share life and faith honestly eventually evolved into Godly Girlfriends — a community I officially started thirteen years ago with a simple dream: to do life together as devoted, Christ-centered women — encouraging one another, speaking truth, and offering virtual (and sometimes real) hugs.

That dream hasn’t changed. But God has expanded it.

What began as Godly Girlfriends has grown into Addicted to God — a name rooted in Mark 12:30: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (NIV)

We all have addictions. Some look obvious and destructive — alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling. Others are more subtle and socially acceptable: sugar, scrolling, shopping, people-pleasing, overworking, seeking approval, binge-watching, or even “good” things like gardening or exercise when they become escapes.

When anything other than God becomes what we run to for comfort, identity, or relief, it eventually leaves us empty. But when God becomes our greatest desire — when we love Him with everything we have — He becomes the one healthy addiction. The life-giving kind. The only One that truly satisfies and sets us free.

Who This Is For

This is for anyone who feels stuck in cycles they can’t seem to break. For those battling obvious addictions and for those quietly controlled by “harmless” habits. For the discouraged, the defeated, and the ones who wonder if God could really want someone like them.

No perfect past required. No spiritual resume needed. Just come as you are.

What I Believe With Everything in Me

I believe with all my heart in Mark 10:27 — “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (NIV)

We cannot break free or fix ourselves on our own. But God can — and He does. I’ve witnessed it in prison cells, support group meetings, and ordinary conversations over coffee. That’s why I share real stories of redemption: because when someone who’s been where you are says, “There’s hope,” you can actually believe it.

A New Chapter: Sarah Annie Schneider

As this ministry grows, I’m bringing everything together under one name: Sarah Annie Schneider.

My writing, speaking, The Addicted to God Podcast, YouTube channel (@AddictedToGod), and upcoming book will now live in one place. My hope is that this makes it easier for you to find encouragement exactly when you need it — and simpler to share with others who are quietly struggling too.

The heart of this community stays exactly the same. We’re just building a bigger table.

An Invitation

If you’ve ever felt controlled by something you wish you could stop — whether it’s obvious or hidden — this is for you. If you’re hungry for a faith that’s real, honest, and practical — this is for you.

I invite you to join this movement. A place where we gently transfer our earthly addictions, habits, and destructive cycles to the one healthy addiction: a deep, life-giving relationship with God.

I can’t wait to walk this journey with you.

Because there really is only one addiction worth having — and it changes everything.

Find Me Here

📖 Writing & Newsletter — Substack: substack.com/@sarahannieschneider ▶️ YouTube — @AddictedToGod 🎙️ Podcast — The Addicted to God Pod Podcast (Apple or Spotify)

If this encouraged you, please share it with someone who needs hope today.

Didn’t See That Coming!

Posted in Reflections From My Heart by

GGBlog

“I give you this charge, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1b-2

It was only supposed to be a photo shoot to update my professional photo and the photographer, making small talk, says, “Any big plans for the weekend?”

Not expecting my answer to go very far, since I talk about it all the time, which usually ends with a sweet, “Wow! I couldn’t do that, good for you,” I answered his question with, “Yes, I am meeting with 3 inmates tomorrow for bible study at the jail.”

It was pretty obvious that the photo shoot got very interesting from there; Perhaps better words to describe it would be “weird”, or possibly “awkward” to be accurate.

He clarified, “I assume you’re talking about the Christian bible?” I responded, “Yes!” In the hope that this would open up a great spiritual dialog, but instead he said, “Well that’s interesting, since I have studied all the world religions and they all pretty much have their own take on it. At the end of the day they all say the same thing, so why Christian?”

I thought I would start with my testimony. After all, it is my own personal, “why Christian”. So I proceeded to explain that 18 years ago I was questioned, for the first time in my life at my daughters baptism, about my belief in infant baptism and I really wasn’t prepared for the confrontation. I was baptizing my daughter because I was raised to believe that it was the right thing to do; not because I understood why I was doing it. That day I surrendered my life to Christ and made a commitment to seek and know the truth. I wanted to raise my daughters in that confidence and to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how to get to heaven so they wouldn’t have to question what they believe if they are ever confronted like I had been.

He didn’t bite. He continued, “Well, if you are teaching your daughters what you believe and that is all they’ve ever known, are you – in essence – doing exactly what your parents did to you?”

I really couldn’t argue. He’s right! It’s not like I shopped religions and gave my kids an education in all of the ways the world practices their beliefs and helped them understand why Jesus truly is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through Him (John 14:6), but I know what I know because I KNOW Jesus! I have the Holy Spirit living in me (Ephesians 4:30), I have witnessed my own life transformed (Romans 12:1-2), I have seen miraculous signs of things I could have never thought or imagined (Ephesians 3:20).

At this point we just tipped toed off the subject and back onto the photo shoot, but this conversation is still lingering in my mind. Several thoughts are jockeying around:

1 – This man is going to hell for not knowing the truth and I wasn’t able to give him any reason to think otherwise. He is deceived by the belief that their are many roads to heaven.
2 – I was not prepared to give a reason for the truth that I believe. I am a student of God’s Word and my life is a continuous process of growing in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:18b), and I was weak, at best, to be a disciple of all of the truths that I have learned and know.
3 – What would I have said if given the chance to do it again? (Personal growth opportunity)
4 – Should I invite him to lunch and ask him to allow me to share the gospel? Maybe no one ever took the time to explain it and if he approached world religions as an academic exercise, I am sure it would be hard to differentiate why Christian.

In the meantime, you can be assured that I will be praying for him. Also, I will be continuing to learn and grow. This conversation is evidence that God isn’t finished with me yet. I do need to continue to learn and run the race that has been marked out for me (Hebrews 12:1).

Listen here: