God's work in Cary's life -- transformation and peace

Before I put my faith in Christ I was uncertain about my relationship with him. I worried that I was participating in religion, without really experiencing the peace of God. I was trying to obey but felt that I lacked the power do what I knew was right. On the inside I was in personal survival mode more than I was seeing the evidence of having a positive impact on others.

I was a popular high school Junior and enjoyed my life experiences and friend group. But I was experiencing pressures to do things that didn't feel right, and I felt like I didn't have the power to move in a new direction with confidence. I remember sitting at a stoplight with Billy Schnobrich and some other friends and thinking, there has to be a better way. I started to look for a time to gain more certainty that I was Christ's and he was mine.

One night my youth group had a guest speaker that I had heard before. But I was ready to settle this issue in my head and heart -- I wanted to know that I had surrendered my life to Jesus. That he was to be my guide and that my life was no longer going to be directed by me, but by His Spirit and His Word. Deciding that night to follow Jesus didn't result in a clear change the next day, but it marked a moment that I was declaring I didn't want to do it my way anymore. I knew I needed forgiveness, and power, and a plan and I knew that Jesus had all three of those to give me.

After making a decision to follow Christ, I grew in my confidence that He was the owner of my life. I began to live with more peace and strength that I could stand against the peer pressures and wait for His best for my life. The change wasn't immediate, and it wasn't like I had crystal clear thinking from then on. But he gave me peace and brought relationships into my life that would move me closer to him. That process of learning from His people and His word took a few years, and I was still maturing in my faith. But I was on a journey that has continued to be a clear path of peace and strength for 50 years.

The bible verse I Cor 10:13 meant a lot to me starting as a teenager. I first learned it an older translation, "There hath no temptation uncommon to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, so that you may bear up under it." As I transitioned to full and confident belief in the truth of this verse I felt like I could handle any temptation. I grew in my ability to stand by my values, and by God's grace the strength clearly came from him. That doesn't mean I never stumbled or ceased to live with regrets, but it did mean that I knew that God was present and was giving me strength to endure any challenge I might face.

I don't have a single doubt that, by God's power over my sin, and by His grace to cleanse me of past, present and future sin, that I will be with him forever. I also know with certainty that no one can cause me to lose that gift of eternal life and that He has made a clear promise He'll never give up on me.