Personal Testimony

I'm so glad I walk with God through this life. I accepted Jesus at a young age (10) and had a strong example set by my Grandmother, who was a very strong woman of faith. I actually have some of her journals and bibles with notes, so she still guides me in a way. Through my late teens/early twenties, I strayed from my walk and consequently found myself to be very unhappy in everything I did. Since recommitting myself to God, I have come to feel a true, lasting happiness that I was never able to find when I was far from Him. I love knowing that no matter what I face God is always with me; it has given me a sense of contentment, peace and hope in some tough situations. I appreciate having trust in God's plan and what it does for my anxious heart. I love the security I feel in God's unconditional love and the belief I have that this world is temporary and heaven awaits me. I love that all I need to do is lift my voice in prayer and He hears me, loves me, and cares for me (and if I'm listening, send me answers). It is so much easier for me to trust in His timing than my own. Jesus serves as an example to me in my life and teaches me lessons on forgiveness, love, patience and faithfulness that I use daily. I look to my faith to provide guidance in all areas of my life - finances, my marriage, my personal relationships, relationships with coworkers, health and medical emergencies, job challenges, etc. I love that for any of life's questions, He is always the right answer. He never fails me, never gives up on me, and never stops loving me.

I remember about seven weeks ago, my husband woke me up out of a deep sleep in the middle of the night, extremely upset. It was one of those moments you snap out of bed thinking "What's wrong?!" He was inconsolable. He said his good friend Matt had suffered a massive stroke and was in the ICU and it looked bad. I instantly was overcome by this voice telling me "It's going to be o.k. He's going to be o.k." so, not knowing what else to say to my husband, I just kept repeating that. I have never lost hold of that feeling that we were not going to lose Matt, not yet, and not in this way. I think this was truly one of the first times in my adult life I can honestly say I didn't feel that desperate need to get all of my questions answered, that instant crushing anxiety of "what if"?, because I already had my answer and I believe that it came from God himself.

That same peace that God gave me in this situation is the same peace I have as I go about my life here on Earth - the kind of peace that comes from knowing that I will spend eternity with Him in Heaven.