J
I just thought I'd share my testimony and where I am now in my walk with Christ.
I live in a Christian home. My parents have always tried their hardest to raise the 3 of us to follow God's command. I lived in a small baptist town in Ohio with no Wal-Mart and I was very sheltered. I don't remember when I was "saved" It was when I was 4 or 5....my parents just say that it happened. So I grew up thinking that because I believe in Jesus, I must be going to heaven. I didn't really have a relationship and I often found myself confused afraid to ask questions.
When I was 9, a very dear family friend of ours told my dad that his greatest wish for me and my brother to grow in Christ. A month later he died of a sudden heart attack. I remember it was the first time I really was in pain. I had never expirienced loss that hit so deep before. This sent me into a stage of even more confusion, and it made me doubt God, like, how could a God who loves me allow this to happen?
Then 3 years later, I was at a church camp and somehow I was reminded of what our friend had said to my dad before he died. That his biggest wish was for me and my brother to grow in Christ. It finally hit me that that was God trying to get my attention, that through that time of struggle He was there, reaching out to comfort me but I hadnt realized until then. So I rededicated my life to Him. Even today, it's very unsettling that God had to take away someone so loved to finally get my attention.
That summer, I moved out of my small baptist town to the suburbs of a big city. I got involved with a youth group right away, but I didn't really have close friends. And there were times where I felt that everyone hated me and I was unwanted and I was better off dead. I found myself thinking about suicide every time something went wrong. But then, I turned to God and I asked Him to comfort me, and he did! By the next summer I had different groups of amazing friends and I was finally happy with where I lived.
I remember sometime around this last November lying in bed feeling useless and praying that God would use me in a way to honor Him. And at that moment, the name Karen came to mind, My friend who is unsaved. So I texted her with a simple message "Hey, I feel the need to share my faith with u" And I was scared that she would reject me and call all this bible stuff nonsense. But she didnt. So it's been a continuous journey with her. She's not ready to commit, but I know that God doesnt want me to give up. She is His child, and I'm just an extra hand in guiding her to Him.
So last month I went to Student Life Camp with my youth group. It really opened my eyes to what I needed changed in my life and just a little expirience I thought I'd share with you: While I was worshipping, singing at the top of my lungs with my arms reaching out to God, I felt Him grab my hands--like an actual human touch. And it overwhelmed me and brought me to tears right there and I screamed "YOU WILL NEVER LET GO!" And it's true. God has a hold of me now, and no matter how far I stray, He's always got my hand pulling me back to Him.
I live in a Christian home. My parents have always tried their hardest to raise the 3 of us to follow God's command. I lived in a small baptist town in Ohio with no Wal-Mart and I was very sheltered. I don't remember when I was "saved" It was when I was 4 or 5....my parents just say that it happened. So I grew up thinking that because I believe in Jesus, I must be going to heaven. I didn't really have a relationship and I often found myself confused afraid to ask questions.
When I was 9, a very dear family friend of ours told my dad that his greatest wish for me and my brother to grow in Christ. A month later he died of a sudden heart attack. I remember it was the first time I really was in pain. I had never expirienced loss that hit so deep before. This sent me into a stage of even more confusion, and it made me doubt God, like, how could a God who loves me allow this to happen?
Then 3 years later, I was at a church camp and somehow I was reminded of what our friend had said to my dad before he died. That his biggest wish was for me and my brother to grow in Christ. It finally hit me that that was God trying to get my attention, that through that time of struggle He was there, reaching out to comfort me but I hadnt realized until then. So I rededicated my life to Him. Even today, it's very unsettling that God had to take away someone so loved to finally get my attention.
That summer, I moved out of my small baptist town to the suburbs of a big city. I got involved with a youth group right away, but I didn't really have close friends. And there were times where I felt that everyone hated me and I was unwanted and I was better off dead. I found myself thinking about suicide every time something went wrong. But then, I turned to God and I asked Him to comfort me, and he did! By the next summer I had different groups of amazing friends and I was finally happy with where I lived.
I remember sometime around this last November lying in bed feeling useless and praying that God would use me in a way to honor Him. And at that moment, the name Karen came to mind, My friend who is unsaved. So I texted her with a simple message "Hey, I feel the need to share my faith with u" And I was scared that she would reject me and call all this bible stuff nonsense. But she didnt. So it's been a continuous journey with her. She's not ready to commit, but I know that God doesnt want me to give up. She is His child, and I'm just an extra hand in guiding her to Him.
So last month I went to Student Life Camp with my youth group. It really opened my eyes to what I needed changed in my life and just a little expirience I thought I'd share with you: While I was worshipping, singing at the top of my lungs with my arms reaching out to God, I felt Him grab my hands--like an actual human touch. And it overwhelmed me and brought me to tears right there and I screamed "YOU WILL NEVER LET GO!" And it's true. God has a hold of me now, and no matter how far I stray, He's always got my hand pulling me back to Him.