I turned to belief at age 12 in the risen Son Jesus, I went astray for a long while (stood in belief even though went astray), was a drunk until 27 from 14 years of age. My youngest sister died on an overdose at age 18, I was 14, I did not want to believe she was/is dead for 13 years.
During that 13 years, at age 17, my Dad died of health problems at age 63. Then at age 21, my eldest Brother died, he was 31. He was found dead on Campus Crusade for Christ (1978), leaned against a boulder, two miles above the sanctuary. The Autopsy never found a physical cause of death.
I turned to belief undoubtedly, after that event. Still was an alcoholic and a druggie until age 27, when I saw to accept my youngest sister as dead. I am 67 years of age now, have been dry of alcohol and drugs ever since accepting my youngest sister's death.
Therefore, I had seen a waste of life, my sisters, at a young age, my dad of old age, not really that old at 63. Then my eldest brothers death, his age 31. Ever since belief in the risen Son for me. I have gone through tragedy after tragedy, many close calls of death, that is reported from doctors to me, I should be dead. Therefore I reckon me as dead (Romans 6:11-12)
I went through most of the time in belief to God, no matter what happened to me. I then got caught up under Law (went to Church) to not do and did it anyways, what I wanted to not do. The things I did do, I got proud over it, as if better than others.
This has taught me God's grace deeper, wider and higher than any flesh natured person can ever see. I am talking about me of the flesh person that reacts bad and good to things, depending on what is going on then.
I see what Paul talks of: about contentment now. Good or bad matters not, to be content in all things and remain willing to learn from all things, between God and you personally above everything else please.
The forbidden, y'all brings out sin in each person, as Paul speaks of in Romans 7, yet read Chapters 6,7, 8 please and in trust to God ask God to reveal this to you, thank you.
By God, thanks to Son Jesus for us, all sin is now reconciled to us as forgiven, even if one sins again, we from God remain forgiven. not from people, from God thanks to Son.
Therefore, I see to Enter God's courts with thanksgiving and praise, all sin is now by Son taken out of the way for us to learn new in our mistakes we have made or might still make. Psalms 100:4, 103:12, He did it as said he did in John 19:30 "It is finished"
What got finished? The fulfillment of the Law of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17) to be made alive as new in God's Spirit and Truth ( John 4:23-24)
Instead of have to do, to get or keep in God's mercy and grace of risen Son for me. I now see to do it by the free choice given me to do it. there is a gigantic difference in having to do it over choosing to do it by Faith trust in the done work of Son.
That is my story and I stand in it, thanks to God Father, Son and the Holy Spirit guide for me to be guided in it as in Psalms 23 tells me this truth