Spent an actual 40 years wandering in the desert, but God still rescued me.

I can't imagine a life without Jesus, He's my best friend & because of Him I have comfort, joy, purpose, & strength to keep on.

I met Jesus when I was hiding under a table. I was a little girl scared of a storm. My mom had gotten under there with me and led me in a prayer to be saved. My fear went away instantly and since that moment I've always loved storms. I'd like to say my life's been perfect since then but it's been far from it. I rededicated my life when I was 13 but I still didn't understand it and lived a lukewarm life that led to difficulty on top of difficulties. I would come back to God when things got hard and as soon as they were better I'd "take the wheel again". But I always crashed. The last crash was particularly bad. I found myself in a situation living a life that was completely opposite of who I really was. Even in my lukewarm days I hadn't sunk this low. I desperately wanted out of the situation but I felt trapped and for the first time, helpless to help myself. I cried out to God differently this time.. I was embarrassed, full of deep regret, scared, and sincere with a contrite heart willing to surrender once and for all.. I could almost feel my wretched heart reach heaven when I cried out and said God please get me out of this. He swooped in and saved me just like that. Within 24 hours He turned everything around in ways that I never would've guessed. I was overcome with thankfulness & felt set free. I worked on repairing the damage I'd done and set out to "work out my salvation".. there was a lot I still didn't understand and a lot of questions. It took work on my part. I fasted and read the whole Bible for the first time, searched every book, website & YouTube video for the wisdom & understanding I needed. There was a lot of frustration and my faith was tested but I refused to give up. After a couple of years He led me to a new church where someone finally walked through all the steps of salvation with me and made me understand. For the first time I knew I was certain I'm going to heaven. I'm not sure if I was saved under that table when I was little. It seems He's been savING me ever since then but what I do know now for certain is that my eternity is secure because Jesus died on the cross for me. It's actually very simple, just like the song says.. I once was lost and now I'm found.

My eternity is secure not because of anything I can do to earn it, but because He died on the cross to purchase my place in heaven so I can know without a doubt that God is always with me and that I will spend eternity in heaven with Him.