AMAZING STORY
His Past Finally Caught Up With Him, and He Couldn't Be Happier
By Michelle Wilson
The 700 Club
CBN.com -Fishing has long been a place of solace for Richard Gorman. He recalls coming here as a young boy to forget the day’s troubles. Richard recalls, “Being a country boy, you know, one of the things we do is fish, hunt. That was the time where I could just sit back and not have any worries.”
As a young adult he came here for the same reason but in those days, he was a wanted criminal, and on the run from the law.Richard says, “The tougher you were the more respect you gained; living in that dark world. And it felt good.”
As a teenager, Richard was known as a troublemaker, a pothead and a drinker. When he fell in love with the girl he was sure he would marry, her parents made her break up with him because of his reputation. “It devastated my heart. It literally knocked a void in me that as a young man, I didn’t understand what was going on.”
That’s when he became even more reckless. He began skipping school and partying every weekend. “A sinful world of sex, drugs, alcohol, you know, rock and roll, just that party scene.”
In time, Richard was stealing and dealing drugs. He was arrested and released on probation numerous times over the years for breaking and entering and running from the law. He also became a meth addict. By now, he was filled with anger and hatred towards everyone.
Richard shares, “I not only did not like just anyone, I didn’t even like myself. It got to the point where I didn’t even, you know, I didn’t care for myself. If I had cared for myself I wouldn’t have took myself down this path.”
For years he was on the run from the police until he was pulled over for a DUI. “I said, ‘You got me.’ He goes, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘Man, I’ve been running from the law for 6 years.’ I said, ‘I’m tired of running.’”
In jail for the first time in years, Richard began praying and reading the Bible. “I had desperation. I needed God in my life right then, you know. And that He was my only hope.”
Richard’s previous charges caught up with him and he was sentenced to 5-10 years in a state prison. He called his mother who he knew had been praying for him. “It hurt knowing that this is going to be my life for awhile. And, I brought this all upon myself, you know. It was my consequences I had to face. And I told my mom, ‘I love you.’ She said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll pray for you.’”
Two days later, Richard was called into court. “He (the judge) goes, ‘I want you to go across the street, get your stuff, and I don’t ever want to see you again.’ And I was like, ‘Yes, sir.’ And so I got across the street, I called my parents, and I told them I knew without no doubt that God was honoring my mom’s prayer, and that He had plans for me.”
But still, Richard couldn’t resist his addiction to drugs. After a three-day drug binge, he knew he needed help. “I told God, I said, ‘God, something has to stop.’ I said, ‘something’s got to change.’ I said, ‘I give up.’”
Richard went to stay with a cousin he used to do drugs with. He had become a Christian and invited Richard to church.
“I said, ‘If You’re that God that can do anything, I need my life to change now.’ I said, ‘I need all this gone.’ And I began to pray. And I began to just cry out and just give everything that I had to God right there on that altar, telling Him, you know, You can have it all. I’ve been wrong. I’ve lived the wrong life.’ You know, ‘I want it all gone.’”
“And I just pour my heart and pour my heart on this altar. And ask God, ‘Can I trust Him with this? Can I trust Him with my life?’ And as I poured myself on this altar, you know, I began to hear God say, ‘You know what son, it’s going to be all right. It’s going to be all right.’ And so I get up and I go back, sit back in my pew and worship is going. I get up and I begin to worship God and I knew right then that there was a change. And there was a change that took place, and that my life was not going to be the same.”
Richard surrounded himself with Christian friends and mentors and diligently read the Word of God. In three years, he was totally free from his drug addictions. He also married Brandilyn, the girl he fell in love with in junior high. They have three children and are active in ministry.
Richard shares, “Now here we are. I have a family. I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m full of joy. I’m full of hope. It’s unstoppable now.”
Richard still enjoys fishing. It gives him time to reflect on how the power of God healed a hardened heart.
“I’m a fisher of men too, now. I have a purpose. I have a destiny. Get a hold of that faith; get a hold of that Rock, that Savior Jesus Christ. Nothing is impossible through God.
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