Today we’d like to introduce you to Merilyn Shanell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
One day, I looked up and started noticing a pattern. Every time I was near success, I would be dragged into cycles of lust.
In 2010, I gave my life to Christ at a kids’ summer camp. Then I got back home, and a porn addiction started.
In 2017, During my senior year of high school, I was valedictorian. This was the year I needed to finish strong. Before the school year started, I walked to my boyfriend’s car and felt sick, as if I were going to throw up. I continued to walk to his car, go to his house, and do what I shouldn’t have done. That was the moment everything shifted.
That year, I couldn’t focus in school. I had emotional breakdowns, my class rank dropped, and I was tired and depressed. Everything looked “fine” on the outside, but on the inside, I was in shambles.
In 2021, I was still dealing with the porn addiction, but I decided to pray and fast to break free from it.
In 2023, I walked into sexual sin again.
In 2025, I dropped my guard around someone God had warned me about and became pregnant outside of marriage.
Then I got desperate. I said something had to change. I questioned, “Why does this keep happening?”
This was the start of my journey, questioning my patterns. I started looking for ways to break free, from church services to sermons, podcasts, and a women’s group. I was desperate for freedom. In my search, I learned about the power of prayer and fasting. I realized I had not been addressing the root of the lust that had plagued not only my life but also the lives of members of my family. As I continued applying targeted prayer, fasting, repentance, and healing in community, I started to experience true freedom. Now, I use my voice to tell my story because I know what I went through wasn’t just for me. It was to help other men and women break free from the chains of lust and addiction.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This journey has been far from smooth. It’s been filled with falling, getting back up, and falling again. I noticed that the determination to break free came easily; it was retraining my mind that required the most work. The Word of God tells us not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).
The part that isn’t so smooth is separating yourself from the world’s standards. Sex outside of marriage, consuming sexual music and shows, and engaging with lustful content are all normalized. It also isn’t easy to deny your flesh when it wants to go against the design God calls us to. To live holy. To be set apart.
I’ve found that although the road hasn’t always been smooth, it has led to a life of freedom and peace because you are no longer controlled by your desires. Peace because you no longer have to worry about what your actions will lead to or who will find out. Peace because you have nothing to hide. This is the freedom that makes it all worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I now use my voice to tell others my story. I talk about breaking free from porn addiction and the negative effects of sex before marriage. Soon, I’ll also be using my voice to talk about how living in sexual sin can hinder your destiny, delay your success, and negatively impact your wealth.
The beauty of my work is that I get the chance to tell people how precious they are and how valuable God created their bodies to be. He found us so valuable that He was willing to give His life for us so that we would no longer sell ourselves short.
I’m most thankful for being given the courage to step out of hiding and speak honestly about my struggles. In sharing my testimony, I discovered that freedom begins with telling the truth. I can now help others come out of hiding and find the freedom they are seeking. I believe that God has already given us the tools we need and that, through His power, no one has to remain bound. I stand as a reminder that freedom is possible, chains can be broken, and no struggle is too hidden or too strong for God’s grace.
What sets me apart from others is that I am the girl you would least expect to be talking about this subject. I was a stellar student, kind, well-liked, and the type of person no one would ever suspect was struggling. From the outside, my life seemed put together and admirable. What most people didn’t see was the private battle I was fighting: an ongoing struggle with sexual lust that I carried silently for years.
I consider this a superpower because God often uses the person you would least expect. Now, I have the opportunity to speak about the transformative power of Jesus.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like most is the diversity of talent in the city. I can draw inspiration from almost anyone, and I love seeing how those who have come before me use their gifts.
The thing I like least is that there is so much untapped potential. I can envision what the city could be, and I hate that we’re not there yet. I pray that, in the future, the city continues to expand so that we see more businesses, art, shows, entertainment, and educational opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merilynshanell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merilynshanell/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MerilynShanell
