How Jenny Found Peace in the Whisper
For many of us, the doors of a church can feel heavy. They can feel like they are guarded by the weight of our past, our mistakes, and a nagging sense of "not being good enough."
For Jenny Suprise, those doors felt particularly heavy. Having grown up in a tradition where she felt that sin meant you were "done," she carried decades of shame. Her story isn’t a simple one—it’s a road marked by addiction, domestic abuse, the trauma of witnessing violence, and the heavy burden of PTSD.
But today, Jenny doesn’t walk that road alone.
Searching for a "Higher Power"
Jenny is a survivor. She is a recovering alcoholic, celebrating 21 years of sobriety. But even in recovery, she found herself searching.
"I was always searching for a higher power, a relationship," Jenny shares. "I call it Jesus. Growing up, I felt so much shame and guilt. I wanted to be on the side of Jesus, not the evil I saw in the world."
In October 2025, Jenny decided she was done searching from a distance. She told her husband she wanted to go to church and she asked him to join her. They chose Green Bay Community Church because it was just down the road, but what they found there was much more than convenience.
The End of Shame
For Jenny, the turning point came through a conversation with a woman at church one Sunday.
"I learned I don’t have to have that shame and guilt," Jenny says. "I talked with Cheryl, and she sat with me. She told me Jesus is forgiving—not brimstone and fire. Living in fear is not the way."
The music also played a massive role in her healing. While listening to the song "Gratitude" by Brandon Lake, played during Charlie Kirk’s funeral, the message clicked. She didn't need to "research" anymore. She didn't need to wait. She wanted Jesus in her life.
The Whisper in the Noise
In November 2025, Jenny decided to be baptized. Though she had been baptized as a baby, she wanted this to be her choice—a public declaration that she was forgiven and no longer defined by her past.
The experience was more than she ever expected.
"I got to the back of church to change, and I had an overwhelming wave of emotion. I started to sob," she recalls. "Someone told me it was the Holy Spirit. It was the craziest feeling. Everything in the sanctuary was so loud, but in the back, it was a whisper. It was like Jesus reached out and literally touched me. I was awestruck."
A New Chapter for the Whole Family
The change in Jenny’s life hasn't stayed confined to Sunday mornings. It has transformed her home.
Her Marriage: She and her husband of 26 years now do a daily Bible devotional together. "Our relationship is evolving and getting deeper," she says. "It’s part of the fabric of our lives now."
Her Peace: While Jenny still navigates the realities of PTSD and anxiety, the "storm" feels different now. "I used to think I was resilient and did it on my own. I didn't. Jesus did it. My anxiety has lessened because I know He's got me."
Her Purpose: Jenny now looks at her past trauma through a new lens. She realized that her experiences allowed her to walk alongside her daughter-in-law through her own mental health struggles. What the world meant for evil, God is using for good. She started attending Alpha and encouraged her son to join her. She sees mentoring others through their trauma as her calling.
Her Trust: Jenny also realizes God has always been with her, even before she knew him. That suicide she witnessed – she now sees God helped her then too. “When I went to the door of my missing client, I literally felt a hand on my shoulder that made me pause, and take a deep breath,” she mused. “I really think that was God, helping me prepare myself for what I was about to face.”
A Message for You
If you are reading this and feeling the weight of your own history, Jenny has a message for you:
"You don’t have to live with that shame and guilt. Jesus loves us, and He knows our hearts. We don’t have to be so hard on ourselves. He sees who we are and He loves us more than anybody on this earth ever could."
Jenny’s story reminds us that no matter how much "noise" is in our past, God is waiting to meet us in the whisper.
Written by Mary Deckert
Are you looking for a fresh start or a place to ask big questions? Join us for our next Alpha session or reach out to chat with someone on our team. Like Jenny found, you don't have to walk this path alone.