Persevering Through the ABZs of Life: How I Met Myself and Found God By Gregory Wayne Smith Some men wear their scars on the outside. Gregory Wayne Smith wore his on the inside — hidden beneath degrees, titles, and the appearance of success — for most of his life.

Born in the Shipley Terrace housing projects of Southeast Washington, D.C., Gregory grew up where violence was background music, love came with conditions, and survival was the only lesson life taught. He learned early how to fight, how to hustle, and how to build walls that kept the pain in and the world out. By the time he reached adulthood, he had done everything a man was supposed to do — earned the degrees, climbed into corporate America, chased success — and still felt completely empty inside.

For years, he filled that emptiness with distractions: achievements, relationships, possessions, and addiction. He was winning on the outside and losing on the inside. He was living, but he wasn't alive.

Then, in what he can only describe as divine timing, God got his attention.

Persevering Through the ABZs of Life is Gregory's raw, unflinching account of that awakening — and the long, hard, grace-filled road that followed. From boyhood trauma and street survival to corporate success and spiritual collapse, from addiction and broken relationships to restoration, ministry, and purpose, this is a memoir that refuses to look away from the hard parts of a man's story. At the heart of the book is Gregory's ABZs framework — the three stages of transformation every person must face:

- Awareness — when your eyes open to truth, even when that truth hurts

- Belief — when you begin to trust that change is possible, even when you cannot yet see it

- Zeal — when your purpose ignites and you live each day with passion and peace

Each chapter traces a different season of Gregory's journey through those stages — from early childhood awareness of pain and longing, through the valleys of addiction and self-deception, to the moment he finally met himself honestly and, in doing so, met God.

This book is not a highlight reel. It is not a manual for perfection. It is a roadmap through the valleys and victories that shaped one man's faith — written for every person who has ever felt lost, overlooked, or broken by life's circumstances. Whether you are just beginning to recognize that something is missing, or you are deep in your own bottom and searching for a way up, these pages were written for you. Your story is not over. You are still becoming.

Welcome to the journey.