The breath of fresh air that I've got in life now the peace that I have and that's something that I've never had before.

I was always just on edge and anxious and fearful. I don't live life in fear anymore.

You know, now I know that no matter what happens and no matter what comes I can be okay.

Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. On this episode we feature stories from The Next Door, a nonprofit faith-based

organization that helps women who are coming out of incarceration, return to

society, and provides resources and treatments so they can successfully transition back to life outside of prison.

During this episode we'll hear the stories of three women who came to the next door

after trauma and pain led them into a life of addiction, Lauren, Asia, and Natalie.

They share how they received help for their emotional issues and their addictions through

the next-door's programs, but most importantly how they learned how much they are loved

by others and by God.

So I'm Lauren Norris.

I was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, grew up. We moved to the South quickly after, I think

I was like nine months old. My mom's family is from Alabama, so we moved to Nashville when I was

four.

I have a little brother and little sister

with my mom and her husband.

He basically raced me.

I mean, that's the only dad that I knew growing up. Basically when I was real little,

the family dynamics changed when my sister was born.

Obviously whenever you have a stepchild things just are different

whenever he had his little girl. So there was definitely a definite shift when I was

...