God’s Love for Me – An inmate’s Testimony by Jeffrey Marler
There are times in life when everything is shaken, and you find yourself asking, “Why is this happening to me?” You wonder what direction your life is taking—I certainly did. It is easy to think we are in total control of our lives, but we are only fooling ourselves. God is in control in ways we can barely begin to comprehend.
My name is Jeffrey Marler, and I am a soldier for the Lord. This is the story of how God transformed my life—how He took me from feeling like a nobody and made me a worker in His kingdom.
As I write this letter, I am serving a five-year sentence with the Missouri Department of Corrections. I have completed three years, with two remaining, writing these words from inside a cell. The story I am sharing is simple truth: it is about the struggles I have faced, the challenges still ahead, and the unconditional love of God that makes standing through it all possible.
My journey began the day I was arrested. Those first few days were pure torment. I truly believed my life was over and that nothing good could ever come from my situation. I had little to no faith, and I felt utterly forgotten by God—though looking back, without faith, how could I have expected to feel His presence? I knew very little about spiritual matters, rarely prayed, and hadn’t stepped inside a church in years. I couldn’t grasp the love of God or understand its power. Little did I know that very soon, that same love would break through my heart and bring me to tears.
At first, I was too consumed by self-pity to notice. I was frightened, alone, and felt as though my cries were going unanswered. Some men in the jail tried to force the Bible on me, but when I tried to read it, the words made no sense, so I set it aside.
As time slowly dragged on, I wrestled constantly with my own faults and fears. If you think daytime in jail is hard, night time is a completely different battle. Your own thoughts can play heavy games with your mind; the dark is rarely a friend. After five months of carrying that weight, I broke down. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own anymore—I needed help.
Then one day, I met Pastor Michael Wilson, a visiting chaplain at the jail, and I signed up to talk with him. Pastor Mike shared the plain truth of salvation with me. He explained that to invite the Lord into my life, all I needed to do was surrender everything to Him: my faith, my trust, and my love.
When I finally gave the Lord my heart, the heavy anchor of fear and worry lifted. The anger and emptiness that had defined me for so long vanished, replaced by a newfound faith. A new life opened up right before me—even behind concrete and steel—and it was up to me how I would walk in it.
When I was sentenced and transferred, new trials met me at the door. I didn’t know what to expect, so I prayed constantly for the Lord to watch over and shield me. He did far more than keep me safe. He opened doors for me to serve others. God gave me the opportunity to step up as a house and wing representative, and to serve on both the Food Service Council and the FCC Inmate Council. He gave me the patience and ability to help fellow inmates navigate legal paperwork, write letters, and find answers. All the while, I was completing two Bible studies, attending Bible college, and working through my own health struggles.
Was any of it easy? Not at all. The presence of evil in these places is heavy, and every single day is a battle. But the Lord gave me the spiritual armor to stand against it.
When my health suddenly began to deteriorate with serious complications, my faith was tested again. I caught myself asking, “Why now? How much more can I handle?” I felt isolated, far from family, and tempted to walk away from church and study altogether.
But the Lord was not done with me. He refused to let me turn my back on Him, nor would He let me sit in despair. I learned that no matter how strong-willed we think we are, God’s purpose is always stronger.
In 2025, I attended a Residents Encounter Christ (REC) weekend hosted by the chapel. What God did in my heart that weekend was so overwhelming that I wrote down my testimony. This year, at the 2026 REC weekend, I had the honor of reading that testimony aloud to others. It was a profound move of the Spirit.
Though my health challenges mean I have had to slow down physically, my faith remains firm—and grows stronger each day. There are still difficult days, but I accept them as part of the journey. I will keep fighting because God has not given up on me, and He will not let me give up either.
He has blessed me with the capacity to forgive those who walked away from me, leaving no room for hatred in my heart. He has also given me the ability to write down my story—something I never would have imagined doing before my arrest. God has a clear plan for my life, and I am genuinely excited for what lies ahead.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I come before You seeking Your grace and mercy. I ask that You bless every person who reads this testimony of how Your love transformed my life.
Lord, please watch over Pastor Michael Wilson, his family, and the ministry he shares with Pastor Dale. If not for Pastor Mike and the Bad Boyz Jail Ministry, I might never have found Your light in the darkness.
I ask You to watch over my fellow brothers here who are carrying heavy burdens, dealing with personal struggles, or suffering in their bodies. Keep them safe and give them comfort. Finally, Lord, protect those who abandoned me, and grant them Your forgiveness and peace.
Amen.