“SURVIVAL MODE SAVES YOU FROM A LOT OF THINGS, BUT SURVIVAL MODE IS NOT HOW YOU LIVE.”
Amanda Lynn is known today as a luxury real estate agent, entrepreneur, and television personality seen on Netflix’s Selling Sunset.
But behind the success is a story very few people know.
Amanda spent much of her childhood with both of her parents battling addiction and experiencing incarceration.
On this episode of the God Behind Bars Podcast, Jake Bodine sits down with Amanda for an incredibly vulnerable conversation about growing up with incarcerated parents, addiction, abandonment, losing her father, breaking generational cycles, finding success, and ultimately discovering healing through Jesus.
Amanda was only five years old when incarceration became part of her family’s story. Prison visits, phone calls, addiction, and the absence of her parents left wounds she would carry for years.
When her father received a five year prison sentence, Amanda eventually stopped opening his letters. She had begun giving up on their relationship.
But God hadn’t.
While incarcerated, her father found Jesus. When he came home, Amanda says the transformation was undeniable. Their relationship was restored, and she finally began getting her father back.
Then, at 23 years old, Amanda received a devastating call. Her father had been shot and killed by his own father.
Years later, Amanda can look back at her father’s life and see something greater than the tragedy. His testimony became part of hers. ❤️
Amanda went on to build a successful career in luxury real estate, but success couldn’t heal everything she had carried since childhood.
“I’ve succeeded in business. I’ve helped myself heal in therapy, but nothing does what God does.”
Amanda says her relationship with her Heavenly Father finally began healing the abandonment she had carried for most of her life. Today, she calls herself the CYCLE BREAKER in a family where addiction and destructive patterns had continued generation after generation.
Amanda also shares a powerful message for incarcerated mothers and fathers who believe their relationship with their children may be too broken to restore:
“The prisoner story is not over. And your relationship with your kids is not over.”
In this episode, Amanda and Jake talk about children of incarcerated parents, addiction, childhood trauma, survival mode, forgiveness, family restoration, breaking generational cycles, finding Jesus, and learning that success alone cannot heal the deepest wounds of our past.
Her father’s story wasn’t over when he entered prison.
Amanda’s story wasn’t over because of what happened to her family.
And yours isn’t either. ❤️
🎙️ THE GOD BEHIND BARS PODCAST
Join Jake Bodine for honest conversations about Jesus, redemption, prison, family, forgiveness, incarceration, and the life changing power of God.
