Media personality Annita Raey recently opened up about her past struggles, including battling alcoholism and drug use before finding faith and turning her life around.
During an interview with VDeejay Hobbz on TV47’s Sifa Sunday program on July 21, 2024, Annita shared her journey from being a functional alcoholic to becoming saved and transforming her life.
“The Bible verse that has kept me going throughout the year is 1 Corinthians 15:58, which says, ‘Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.’ The Lord didn’t say it would be easy, but He promised it would never be in vain. This has been my constant source of strength,” she reflected.
Annita spoke candidly about her troubled past, revealing the impact of a dysfunctional childhood. “My childhood was filled with trauma, and I had no relationship with my mom. I used to have major mummy issues, which I was once ashamed to admit, but I’m now working through them with God’s help,” she said.
She recounted how things took a turn for the worse in high school when she fell in with the wrong crowd. “I started using drugs, smoking weed, and drinking heavily. I even got suspended for selling drugs and was eventually expelled,” she revealed.
Annita also acknowledged the negative impact her behavior had on her family, especially her sisters. “I was selfish and cast a shadow of trouble over my sisters. I want to tell parents to stop comparing their children and taking sides. It prevents them from understanding what love truly is. Each child is unique, and while you can love them equally, you must love them differently,” she advised.
Married at just 17 years old after meeting her husband in a bar, Annita never experienced college life. “I was assaulted at 15, and it made me hate men. But I felt my then-husband was the only one who understood me. I was just looking for love and acceptance,” she said.
However, their relationship, initially built on shared partying and drinking, began to unravel when Annita grew tired of the lifestyle, leading to frequent fights. “Drinking brought us together, but it also drove us apart. Our marriage lasted five years. It was both the best and worst thing that happened to me because it shaped me in both good and bad ways,” she reflected.
Amidst her struggles, Annita was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy shortly after being saved. “With Bell’s Palsy, I lost my balance, and one of my aunts even said it was witchcraft. But I felt like God was grounding me. For three months, I was completely grounded, but during that time, I got to know God, read the Bible, and prayed a lot,” she said.
Annita believes that the Bell’s Palsy condition was a necessary part of her spiritual journey, helping her to focus on her relationship with God. “I survived it, and it brought me closer to God. Growing spiritually has taught me what to weed out—certain company, what I consume spiritually, who I follow on social media, what I listen to, and who I let pray for me.”
Thanks to God’s guidance and favor, Annita now serves as an Associate Pastor, mentors others, and has even written a book. “I am a radical believer in God. I don’t do anything without praying. I live my life with the belief that if God wants it to happen, it will, and if not, it’s not meant to be,” she stated.
She concluded by urging others to cultivate their own relationship with God, saying, “Having a relationship with God is the best feeling. You can talk to Him anywhere, anytime, and He listens.”
