Christian jail testimony: God showed me his mercy and I found freedom in faith
Jail to freedom testimony: Alicia England shares a powerful Christian jail testimony based on Proverbs 1:19. Her story is one of facing the consequences of greed to experiencing God’s mercy through faith. It’s part of our testimony collections on trusting God.
“Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. ”
By Alicia England
Each month, I went to court hoping I would be released. My court date was put off time and time again. At 32, I was a known participant in the revolving door known as Hamilton County Jail in Tennessee.
I was looking forward to getting out of jail. I wanted to go home. I missed my daughter. I missed my bed, and I missed my family.
But I walked out of the courthouse still incarcerated and awaiting sentencing. I was in jail for stealing $50k in a real estate scheme. Greed had blinded me, and I had believed I could get away with it.
Discouraged, I stood in front of my cell door and watched as the metal key turned in the lock.
The loud bang of the cell door signaled what I had hoped was coming to an end. This was my home for the foreseeable future, and I was annoyed by it.
My prayer for release was delayed. ‘Why would I trust God?’
I didn’t understand why God was doing this to me. “Hadn’t I spent enough time in this jail?” I wondered.
“Hadn’t I served my time?”
I wanted to give up on God again. It felt like he was working in everyone else’s life but mine.
“Why would I trust God?” I thought.
I falsely believed God thought I deserved to be in jail.
I was angry at myself.
I had spent years trying to avoid the reality that action had consequences. I couldn’t blame anyone but myself this time.
My poor choices were the reason I was sitting in jail. I had to face reality, and I really didn’t want to. Yet, I had to face the harsh reality of my choices so that God could step in and begin to transform me.
Hearing God in my jail cell
Alone in the dreariness of my cell, the Holy Spirit spoke to me.
I heard him say: “Try me. Give me a chance.”
At first, I didn’t know what to do, but in the deepest part of my soul, I knew that he was calling out to me. I had heard him before, although it had felt distant.
It was the undeniable voice of God.
In the deepest part of my soul, I knew that God was calling out to me.
“Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.”
God’s mercy after poor choices and real estate greed
The dingy gray paint on the jail cell walls was the same, but the atmosphere had shifted. I felt a glimmer of hope.
I sat down on the thin mattress. I opened the Bible and turned to Proverbs, one of my favorite books. I started with Chapter 1.
One verse stood out: Proverbs 1:19 NIV: “Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.”
My mind was blown. “That’s me,” I thought to myself.
I was greedy for money, and it took away my life temporarily.
I was stunned.
I had heard throughout my life about God speaking to people through Scripture, but I had never thought the Bible applied to me.
Invited to join a women’s Bible study in my jail pod
I had access to a tablet on certain days while in jail. We had tablet charging on Tuesdays and Thursdays; any other time, we could have our tablets throughout the day.
We kept them with us unless we got in trouble.
As I continued awaiting sentencing, I decided to use my bunk to work on Bible studies. I grew up with a mom who was a ladies’ Sunday school teacher.
I knew about the Bible. I had tried to read it some, but until I sat on that bunk in jail, I never truly understood that it applied to me, too.
For the first few months I was in jail, when one person or group of people disrupted, we were all in trouble. When that happened, we would lose tablet, TV, and phone privileges. It was hard being in trouble for someone else’s actions.
One afternoon during lockdown, my bunkmate asked if I wanted to have Bible study. Without much thought, I agreed.
Leading a Bible study while in my jail cell
We read the “Daily Bread” and “Besides Still Waters” together. It became a daily occurrence.
Soon, we began hosting Bible studies in our cell. More women joined our Bible studies. I sensed the Lord beginning to move within our pod.
“More women joined our Bible studies. I sensed the Lord beginning to move within our pod.”
After my bunkie was released, I continued to host a nightly Bible study in my cell. I believe the Lord used me.
We started taking prayer requests at the end of each Bible study, and we would pray for the ladies out loud. At first, I had others pray because I was scared, until one day God told me that it was my time to pray, so I did.
I was nervous. What if they judged me? I decided to push through and obeyed.
The Holy Spirit moved while I was in jail
Other women began to come to me and ask me if I would pray for them. One woman came and asked me to pray for her because “she knew I was the real deal.”
The Lord continued to work in a place where the enemy ran rampant, and it was amazing to see.
After six months of incarceration, the Lord had finally answered my prayer to be released.
On January 21st, 2025, I said goodbye to the women in my pod and walked to the front of the jail. I couldn’t wait to get out and call my 5-year-old daughter.
I was free at last.
God used my time in jail to discover his freedom
When the officer came up the stairs and opened my cell door, I thanked the Lord for my release.
I no longer believe God is an angry Judge up in the sky who sits on his throne waiting for me to mess up.
He is a God of justice, yes, but he is also loving, kind, merciful, caring, and good.
He wants the best for me.
When I look back, I realize God knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the exact moment that I was ready and willing to listen.
The truth is that I needed those 6 months in jail for him to start doing good work in me. Even when my addiction relapsed, the devil couldn’t steal the seeds God planted.
Alicia England enjoys writing, reading God’s Word, and spending time with her daughter in her free time. After an encounter with Jesus, she realized how much God loves her and understood that Jesus died for her so that she could be set free from the bondage of sin. Alicia has shared her testimony on multiple podcasts. Learn more about Alicia on her website.
Resources for this story:
Devotionals: Check out our ultimate devotional guide, the daily devotional books we recommend, and advice on how to do devotionals with a hectic schedule.
Prayer: We recommend these books on Christian prayer.
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Discover Alicia England’s inspiring Christian prison testimony of greed, jail time, and God’s amazing mercy. From leading Bible studies in a women’s pod to hearing the Holy Spirit whisper “Try Me,” this jail-to-freedom story shows how God turns our worst mistakes into beautiful redemption.