I HAD TO LET GO OF HIM TO FIND ME

INTRO

WELCOME TIMELESS,

This is a story of transformation, redemption, and identity one that reminds us no one is ever too far gone for the grace of God. It’s about a man who lived many years trying to find himself in the wrong places, wearing masks the world expected of him. But one quiet night, everything changed when he encountered the love of Jesus.

What follows is a testimony of freedom—a journey from confusion to clarity, from performance to peace. May it inspire hope in your heart and faith in the power of a God who still changes lives.

For over a decade, Mario lived as "Marina." Dresses, wigs, heels, and makeup weren’t just part of his appearance, they were his identity, his escape, his shield. He smiled on the outside, but inside, he was empty. Night after night, he performed for acceptance, but when the clubs closed and the lights faded, so did the illusion. The silence afterward always felt heavier than the applause.

One night, long past midnight, Mario sat in his apartment, staring out his window into the city, more like he was just Deeping everything. His makeup smudged, heart heavy. Something inside him whispered, "This isn’t who you are." For the first time in years, he knelt by his bedside and cried out, “Jesus, if You’re real… I need You. I can’t keep living like this.”

That night, everything changed.

Peace flooded the room. No thunder, no lightning, just a stillness that wrapped around him like love. A whisper echoed deep in his soul: "You are mine. Come home."

The next morning, Mario washed off the makeup, folded the dresses, and looked at himself in the mirror, not Marina, but Mario. The man God created him to be.

Since that night, Mario has never looked back.

Now, he wakes up early to read his Bible and spend quiet time with God. Every Sunday, he’s at church, early, smiling, hands lifted in worship. He found a new kind of community, one that loved him without conditions.

One Sunday morning, after service, he met Grace. She was kind, soft-spoken, and strong in her faith. They started talking first just small hellos, then long conversations about Scripture, life, and healing. Grace never judged his past. She saw the man he had become the man God was shaping.

Week by week, their bond grew. She encouraged him, prayed with him, and reminded him that redemption wasn’t just possible it was real.

Mario no longer lives in shame or confusion. He walks with purpose, clothed not just in men’s clothes, but in dignity and truth. The past is part of his story, but not his identity.

Now, he’s walking forward with Grace beside him and Jesus within him.

OUTRO

Mario’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter where we've been or what we've done, God’s love reaches deeper. True identity isn’t found in outward appearances, but in knowing who we are in Christ. Mario found freedom, peace, and purpose and so can anyone who calls on the name of Jesus.

Thank you for taking the time to read his journey. We hope it encouraged you and reminded you that God's grace is always greater.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.