He Walked Away From God… Until One Night Changed Everything
From drug addiction and rejecting Christianity to encountering Jesus and becoming a worship leader. A powerful testimony that no one is ever too far gone for God's grace.
About this episode
Can someone walk so far away from God that there's no way back? What happens when addiction, rebellion, and bitterness take over a life that was once rooted in faith?
Jose grew up in a Christian home surrounded by prayer, worship, and parents who loved Jesus. But as he got older, he began questioning his faith, pursuing his own desires, and gradually turning away from everything he had been taught.
What started as curiosity eventually became a destructive journey through drug addiction, alcohol abuse, rebellion, and depression. After struggling at Texas Tech, Jose pursued a fresh start at Bible college. But frustration, resentment, and another downward spiral led to his arrest and expulsion. He eventually began selling drugs, rejected Christianity, and started calling himself an atheist.
Then one night, everything changed.
While a party continued downstairs, Jose found himself alone in his bedroom, broken and desperate. For the first time in years, he cried out to God, asking Him to reveal Himself. What Jose describes as a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit became the turning point that led him to surrender his life to Jesus Christ.
In this episode of the Kingdom Chaos Podcast, Troy sits down with Jose to hear his remarkable Christian testimony of drug addiction, redemption, spiritual transformation, and the power of persistent prayer.
Jose shares how his parents never stopped praying, how he began his journey toward sobriety, and how God eventually led him halfway around the world to Hillsong College in Australia. There, he discovered the importance of authentic Christian community, mentorship, accountability, and worship.
The same young man who had been expelled from Bible college eventually found himself writing worship music and working alongside Christian musicians he once admired.
But this story isn't ultimately about drugs, music, or even Jose's incredible transformation.
It's about the grace of Jesus Christ, the power of surrender, and the hope that no matter how far you've wandered, you can turn back to God.
Whether you're struggling with addiction, questioning your faith, recovering from church hurt, or praying for a child who has walked away from Jesus, Jose's testimony offers a powerful reminder that your past does not have to define your future.
Read more about this topic: He Walked Away From God… Until One Night Changed Everything
Key Scriptures
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11–32
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38–39
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8–9
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1
Reflection questions
Have you ever felt too far gone for God's forgiveness? What mistakes, failures, or past decisions have made you question whether God could still love and use you?
Are you following Jesus because of your own relationship with Him or because of someone else's faith? How can you begin building a deeper, more personal relationship with Christ?
How have disappointment or negative church experiences affected your relationship with God? Have you allowed the failures of people to influence how you view Jesus?
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Are your closest relationships encouraging you to grow spiritually, or are they pulling you further from the person God is calling you to become?
Is there someone in your life you've stopped praying for? How does Jose's testimony challenge you to remain faithful in prayer, even when you cannot see God working?
What does genuine surrender look like in your life? Are you simply asking God to forgive your mistakes, or are you willing to allow Him to lead your future?
How are you worshiping God outside of church? What would change if you began viewing your everyday conversations, relationships, and responsibilities as opportunities to glorify Jesus?
What’s in this episode
Growing Up in a Christian Home: How Jose's parents established a foundation of faith, prayer, and worship, even as he began questioning his own beliefs.
From Curiosity to Rebellion: How experimenting with drugs and alcohol during his teenage years eventually led to destructive choices at Texas Tech.
Hidden Shame and Personal Loss: Jose opens up about losing a child at a young age and the pressure he placed on himself to maintain the appearance of being a good Christian.
Church Hurt and Walking Away From Christianity: How his experiences at Bible college contributed to resentment, bitterness, and eventually rejecting his faith.
Arrest, Drug Dealing, and Addiction: Jose shares how he was expelled from Bible college, began selling drugs, and struggled with substance abuse and depression.
The Power of a Praying Mother and Father: Why Jose believes his parents' persistent prayers played a significant role in his survival and eventual return to Jesus.
The Night God Met Him in His Bedroom: Jose describes his personal encounter with the Holy Spirit while a party was happening downstairs and how that experience changed the direction of his life.
Surrendering to Jesus and Beginning Recovery: The difficult process of detox, getting sober, and discovering that genuine surrender is more than simply feeling sorry for your mistakes.
Finding Grace and Christian Community: How attending Hillsong College in Australia introduced Jose to relationships where he experienced mentorship, accountability, and support during his continued struggles.
From Drug Dealer to Worship Leader: How God led Jose into songwriting, worship ministry, and opportunities to work with Hillsong musicians.
Discovering God's Purpose Through Obedience: Jose reflects on his journey through Australia, Nashville, marriage, and eventually serving at Woodlands Church in Texas.
What Worship Really Means: Why Jose believes worship is much more than singing on a stage. It's how we live, serve, love, and reflect Jesus in everyday life.
KEY TAKEAWAY
You Are Never Too Far Gone for the Grace of God No amount of rebellion, addiction, shame, or failure puts someone beyond the reach of Jesus Christ. Jose's journey reminds us that genuine transformation begins with surrender, not religious performance. His story also illustrates the importance of faithful prayer, authentic Christian community, accountability, and allowing God to work through every season of life. Whether you've walked away from Jesus, are struggling to break free from addiction, or are praying for someone you love, there is still hope. Your past may be part of your story, but it doesn't have to determine your future in Christ.
Quote from the episode
"If there's a song titled to my life, it's 'You're Never Too Far Gone.' Yeah, and nobody ever is. We'll never fully be able to grasp His mercy, His grace. And we could try as much as we want to outrun it, but we'll never be able to."
— Jose, Kingdom Chaos Podcast
About Jose Valdez
Jose is a Christian worship leader and songwriter whose life is a powerful testimony of redemption and God's transforming grace. After growing up in a Christian home, he struggled with drug addiction, rebellion, and eventually walked away from his faith. A life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit led him back to Jesus and began his journey toward recovery. Jose later attended Hillsong College in Australia, where he helped create worship music alongside Hillsong musicians. Today, he lives in The Woodlands, Texas, with his wife, Taylor, and serves at Woodlands Church. His story reminds us that no one is ever too far gone for God's love.