Summary

SummaryI grew up craving a father’s love after my dad’s harsh discipline left me broken and empty πŸ’”. By seventeen, I was driving down to Ashland, caught in a storm of drugs and lonelinessβ€”until a friend urged me, β€œYou need Jesus.” In Roseburg, I finally cried out, β€œJesus, if you’re real, come into my life,” and He didβ€”in a miraculous, unexplainable way πŸš—βœ¨. Suddenly the grayness lifted into vibrant color. I left my addictions behind and began talking about Jesus instead of chasing emptiness. Over the years, as I walked in faith, He healed my heart and restored my relationship with my earthly father. When he passed, he was my dearest friendβ€”proof that our Heavenly Father can make all things new β€οΈπŸ™.

β€œWhen my father died, we were the best of friends.”

Johanna thought she’d never have a healthy relationship with her father. After she experienced Jesus in a very real way, she began to realize forgiveness and restoration was possible – even with her dad.

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My name is Johanna Witzig, and I am a retired attorney. I’m 65 years old, and I gotta tell you, I have never regretted following Jesus. I was raised into a family that was not a Christian, not happy, and a lot of anger. My dad’s theory of raising children was that if we didn’t respect him, he’d beat it into us, and he did. I was so lonely for a dad that loved me, or that wanted me, or that cared about me. I really wanted to be wanted. So, I had this emptiness inside, incredible, incredible emptiness. It, it hurt. My heart would hurt because I was so empty, and I would wonder, what is the meaning of life? What’s the meaning of my life? Why am I here?

So, when I was 17, I was up visiting my sister and Eugene, got into my car to start driving down to Ashland, and my friend said to me, “‘Joanna, what you need is Jesus.’ And I held out till Roseburg, when I finally surrendered, and I just said, “‘Jesus, if you’re real, if you are real, come into my life.'” And boy, he did, in a very dramatic way. I still have no idea how the car stayed on the road, but I made it safely back to college down in Ashland. My life changed. I went from doing every drug I could get a hold of, and looking at every philosophy I could find. It went to joy. And it went from drab gray to vibrant colors.

I would go to my drug parties, and I would go to Kager’s, and I’d start talking about Jesus. I didn’t need this stuff anymore because Jesus was so good. When I accepted Jesus at 17, and I felt the kiss of approval from my heavenly Father, and let Him become my Father, He began to restore my relationship with my earthly Father. That was a painful thing for me. And we would drive back home, and I would say, I would drive around His old pickup truck, and there was no one I’d rather be with. By the time my dad died, my earthly Father, He was my best of best friends. I would rather be with Him than anyone. And not only that, I was thankful for Him. I loved who He was because God came into my life, and because Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, let my dad and I have a healthy, healthy relationship.

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Overflow Hope
Local stories. Real hope in the Central Lane County community. These are the stories of people in the greater Eugene and Springfield, Oregon community who have experienced Jesus Christ change their lives. Their stories prove Christianity is more than religion and that it's possible to change your life. There is hope when you are hopeless, lack purpose or motivation, struggling with anxiety and depression, or just know there has to be more than life than this. We hope these stories show you that Jesus is alive, loving and willing to meet anyone who cries out to Him.
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