Finding Faith, Freedom, and the Power of Helping Others
By Emily O’Brien, Founder of Comeback Snacks
I grew up in a family where Sunday mornings meant church, community, and connection. My dad made sure we were there every week, no matter the weather. I was an altar server and a reader, which meant I learned to speak clearly and confidently in front of people long before I realized it would become part of my purpose. Those early lessons in faith and public speaking planted seeds that I would not fully understand until much later in life.
Years later, when I found myself facing one of the hardest chapters of my story:being charged and ultimately sentenced to prison, those same roots of faith became my anchor. But I did not rediscover that anchor right away.
It actually began while I was on house arrest, waiting for my sentencing. The uncertainty, the fear, and the shame were all consuming. I was exhausted from living in constant mental anguish. One day, I remember sitting alone and saying to myself, I am not going to live like this anymore. That moment was what I now call divine intervention. It was not loud or dramatic, but it was real. I asked God for help, and that was when everything began to change.
When I went to prison, I made a conscious choice to live differently. Instead of isolating myself, I sought connection with others, with my community, and with God. I started attending chapel services and eventually became very involved there. The chapel became a place of peace, understanding, and healing. It was where I saw that faith could transform even the darkest spaces into places of light.
Because I was in a minimum security facility, I was also allowed to attend church services outside the prison. That is where I met so many kind and welcoming people who did not see me for my mistakes but for my humanity. They prayed with me, shared stories with me, and reminded me that I was still worthy of grace. Those moments renewed my hope in people and showed me how powerful compassion can be.
Faith gave me the courage to keep going when it would have been easier to give up. It reminded me that resilience is not about being unbreakable. It is about trusting that even when you do break, you can rebuild stronger.
That belief became the foundation for Comeback Snacks, the company I started while I was still serving my sentence. The idea was born in the prison common room while watching movies and sharing popcorn with other women. Popcorn became a simple joy, a symbol of comfort and connection. I began to imagine what it could mean beyond those walls: a product that could represent hope, second chances, and redemption.
When I was released, I decided to turn that idea into reality. I started small, with handwritten notes and recipes tested in my kitchen. I sold popcorn at local markets and told my story honestly, even when it was uncomfortable. I wanted people to see that mistakes do not define us, and that with faith and persistence, redemption is possible.
As the company grew, so did its purpose. We began hiring people who had been incarcerated and partnering with organizations that support reintegration. Every bag of popcorn we sell is a symbol of resilience and renewal. It is proof that good things can grow from the hardest soil.
Helping others heal has become part of my own healing. Every time someone tells me that our popcorn inspired them to forgive, to try again, or to give someone else a chance, I feel that same divine presence that I first felt during house arrest. It is a constant reminder that God works through our pain, our purpose, and our people.
When I look back now, I can see the thread that connects it all—the little girl at the pulpit reading verses, the young woman who lost her way, the inmate sitting in a chapel rediscovering faith, and the entrepreneur using her voice to uplift others.
Resilience to me is not about never falling. It is about falling and choosing to rise with love, purpose, and service. My journey has taught me that no matter where you are,inside a prison or out, faith can still find you. And when it does, it does not just restore you. It empowers you to help restore others.
That is the real comeback.
Discover & support Comeback Snacks here.
