ABOUT ME

My name is Christi McLain and I believe God has called me to help others discover a grace "full" valley through the unconditional love and grace found only in Jesus Christ. I started my personal blog and social media ministry called Grace Full Valley several years ago.

I walk in this life with my amazing husband of 21 years, our two kids, and two dogs. Together, we try to reach others and share a message of hope, grace, love, and purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

2 Corinthians 1:4 says: He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

My story is a story of survival, learning, growing, and healing.

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​I lived with my mom growing up. She did her best to care for me, but unfortunately, I suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of two stepfathers. The trauma of this caused me to experience a lot of depression and anxiety. In the ninth grade, after being verbally abused by a parent, I decided life was no longer worth living. I swallowed a handful of sleeping pills and began to cry. Something, that I believe is God, prompted me to let my parent know what I had done so they could take me to the hospital. I remember waking up to the doctor saying if we had been 20 minutes later, I would not be here today to share my story. Sadly, in October of 2008, I lost my mother to suicide. Through years of counseling and many nights of praying and standing firm in my faith, and with the support from my family, I have been able to recover from the trauma I experienced as a child. While I still battle anxiety, depression, and at times suicidal thoughts, I am more equipped to fight these battles.  

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You may be wondering, “Why share such a personal struggle?” On September 1, 2021, on my way home after hearing a presentation about suicide in the workplace and how the presenter himself struggled with this, I heard God say it is time to start sharing your journey and help others. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to share my story at a local coffee shop, high school, and my church youth group.

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I hold this topic close to my heart and helping others battling this fight is my purpose in life. There’s so much shame associated with mental illness and sexual abuse and so I share my story for two reasons. One, I hope to help others who have experienced this type of trauma or who struggle with mental illness feel like they do not have to hide behind the shame anymore. With sexual abuse, it is not our shame to bear. With mental illness, there is no shame in taking care of yourself and speaking up when you feel hopeless and lost. The second reason I share my story is to give hope and to help others realize they have a purpose in life. I spent years asking, “Why did this happen to me?” Once I realized I could not change the past, I began to realize I could use the past to change the future.

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If you are struggling with mental illness or the aftereffects of childhood trauma, I encourage you to please reach out for help.