06/28/2025
LONG POST! 📚 From prison walls to spiritual awakening— this is a book that will break chains and ignite hope.
More than a decade ago, I felt a divine nudge—a calling I couldn’t ignore—to write a book called Prison Psalms. It was meant to give voice to those who had been incarcerated, to share their raw truth, and to reveal how God meets us even in our darkest places. I wanted it to bring hope to the imprisoned, healing to those who’ve walked free but still carry invisible chains, and a warning to the next generation standing at a dangerous crossroads.
I first shared this vision with my dear friend Leroy Smith—known as “YG,” short for “Young God.” Leroy didn’t just understand the heart of Prison Psalms—he lived it. A survivor of deep childhood trauma and the unforgiving streets of Brooklyn, he turned to crime as a way to survive. Prison became his reality. But behind those bars, something extraordinary happened: he encountered the life-changing presence of God.
He dreamed of us writing this book together. But time, trials, and spiritual warfare put distance between us. Then, time passed and I received news that stunned me—Leroy had passed away.
While preparing to move, I found a small, dusty box on a shelf in my office. Inside were dozens of Leroy’s letters, written from prison nearly eight years previous—some still unopened. As I read them, it felt like he was sitting beside me, speaking directly to my spirit. In one letter, he wrote:
“Valerie, if you look around you, you’ll see I’ve written you so many letters from behind these walls that you could write that book you always dreamed of—just from my letters alone.”
That moment shook me. It was as if God had hidden these words for the right season. The very next day, my daughter stopped by and began telling me she’d dreamed of YG—speaking to her about a box. That was all the confirmation I needed.
Now, Prison Psalms has come to life—not just through my voice, but through Leroy’s letters, his journey, and his undeniable faith.
These pages are filled with:
🔹 Hope — for those lost in pain or prison—literal or emotional.
This book is for the one who feels forgotten. For the man behind cold bars wondering if redemption is still possible. For the woman buried in silent pain, shame, or trauma she’s never spoken out loud. Prison Psalms reminds us that no prison—be it physical, emotional, or spiritual—is too dark for the light of God’s love to break through.
These pages carry real, raw stories that reflect the struggle of people who've hit rock bottom—addiction, abandonment, loss, incarceration, betrayal—but they also shine with the unshakable truth that hope is still alive. If you’ve ever questioned whether God sees you, this book will shout from the pages: He does. And He’s not done with you yet.
🔹 Faith — that reaches beyond walls and past regrets.
So many live bound not by prison bars, but by guilt, regret, and the lie that they’ve messed up too badly to be used by God. This book proves otherwise. Through the heartfelt letters of a man once considered a lost cause, Prison Psalms shows how faith can rise even in the most unlikely places—from prison cells to broken homes to the aching heart of someone who just wants another chance.
This is faith in action—faith that doesn't deny the pain, but dares to believe that God can rebuild what’s been shattered. These pages remind us that no matter what your past holds, if you give God a “yes,” He’ll give you a future.
🔹 Love — that restores identity and worth.
These aren’t just letters—they’re love poured out on paper. A man who once felt unloved, unwanted, and thrown away found God's love behind bars—and from that place, he wrote with honesty, tenderness, and truth. He wrote about the love of a man for a woman, the hope of a future together, and the deeper love of a God who never gave up on him.
If you’ve ever felt unworthy of love… if life has convinced you that you’re too broken to be seen or known… this book will speak to your soul. You'll discover that God’s love not only finds you—it restores you. It reclaims your name, your purpose, your dignity.
🔹 Truth — rooted in Scripture, written by Valerie Gandy and a man transformed by grace.
Prison Psalms doesn’t offer shallow comfort. It offers truth that sets you free. With every letter, every reflection, every Scripture shared, you’ll be drawn back to the unshakable Word of God—the only foundation that holds when everything else falls apart.
These aren’t fictional stories. They’re lived testimonies. Written by Valerie Gandy and Leroy Smith—a man once raised on the streets of Brooklyn after losing both parents at 10 years old, beaten, broken, and bound by survival—this book is a living witness to how grace transforms even the “worst” among us into warriors for Christ.
Let these pages be a mirror, a map, and a movement:
▪️A mirror that helps you see your true worth.
▪️A map that leads you back to God.
▪️A movement that will stir your soul to believe again—for yourself, your children, your family.
Like the Apostle Paul, Leroy didn’t waste his prison time—he used it to grow, to write, to minister. And even now, his voice still echoes. I am honored to share it with you.
I’m Valerie Gandy, and this is more than a book. It’s a mission, a miracle, and a message for anyone who believes it’s too late. It’s not.
Open these pages and let Prison Psalms remind you: God redeems EVERYTHING.
đź“š Available NOW on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FFTL6L6N
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