In a powerful and deeply personal testimony, Rabbi Kirt Schneider shares his harrowing journey from despair into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ. His story is one of supernatural deliverance, revealing the relentless love of God that reaches into the deepest pits of hopelessness.
Schneider recounts the chilling season of his life when he was tormented by oppressive darkness. Plagued by fear, anxiety and overwhelming depression, he vividly describes sensing the devil himself laughing at him—sadistically mocking his suffering. Trapped in a mental and spiritual abyss, he wrestled with the reality of his vulnerability and the looming fear of death.
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“I literally sense[d] the devil laying over me, laughing at me and sadistically making me laugh at myself,” Schneider recounts. “In my sleep one night, I saw inside my brain and there was pitch blackness inside my head. And I understood that God was telling me that you were completely trapped, living under the darkness. But now, I’m carving out through that darkness, a way into the light, a way into me.”
A Life-Changing Encounter
But God was already carving a way out.
In 1978, at the age of 20, Schneider had a life-altering vision of Jesus. Despite having no prior Christian background—being raised in a Jewish home—he supernaturally recognized the crucified Christ. In the vision, a radiant red beam of light from heaven pierced the scene, illuminating the Messiah and filling Schneider with sudden, inexplicable hope. It was the first step in his lifelong journey of redemption.
“I knew nothing about Jesus,” says Schneider. “But when this happened to me, suddenly, I found myself in a state of supernatural awareness.”
The Battle for Freedom
However, his deliverance did not happen overnight. Schneider emphasizes that walking in the fullness of God’s light is a process that requires active partnership with the Lord. Quoting 1 Peter 2:9, he highlights that believers are called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, but this transformation demands perseverance.
With raw honesty, he describes the battle of reprogramming his mind with God’s truth. Like an elite athlete training for victory, he immersed himself in Scripture, saturating his thoughts with the promises of God. Through consistent prayer, worship and Bible meditation, he gradually learned to discern between the voices of darkness and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Fighting Back with Truth
Schneider encourages others battling mental oppression—whether anxiety, fear, OCD or depression—to fight back with spiritual tenacity. He speaks of resisting the lies of the enemy and actively clinging to God’s promises.
The process, he says, is gradual but life-transforming. The more Schneider himself has pursued the Lord, the more freedom he has experienced. The light of Jesus has brought him into profound freedom, identity, and purpose.
Schneider’s message is clear: no matter how deep the darkness, God’s light is greater. Through faith, persistence and the power of the Holy Spirit, true freedom is possible.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
