I was in the seventh grade. I hadn’t been able to sleep well for days and would instead lay in bed wrestling with my thoughts…knowing I needed to DO something. I wasn’t at peace and I knew why. Even though I was being raised in a Christian home and had been a pretty good kid, I knew I was a sinner. I needed to make things right with God.
It was pretty cool, because while neither of us knew it, my brother and I had BOTH been wrestling with the same lack of peace. We made our decision to commit our lives fully to Christ at the same time. It was a special day when our dad baptized both my brother and me. I remember very clearly the moment I came up out of the water feeling like a new person! Whole…loved…clean…forgiven!
I’ve done a lot more wrestling since that night as I’ve learned more and studied more and grown into a deeper understanding of what it means to “take up my cross daily and follow Jesus“.
I remember especially wrestling during my college years, when I was out on my own and needed to figure out for myself what I believed and why I believed it. I’m very thankful for that time, even though it was quite painful to tear myself away and make my faith my very own.
When my babies were born, it was then I realized how REAL God is and that truly, only He could create…well…anything so amazing and perfect.
The most humbling, terrifying, horrible, incredible and beautiful time of my spiritual life came while my mom was sick and dying. It was during those months of intense pain and grief that I learned to accept God’s comfort in a way that only He can give it. He gives His comfort at the level that we need it. At that time, I needed an incredible measure of comfort…and He gave it. I would lay in my bed and sob and cry out to Him, then I would feel His comfort and love so real and full as if there was no one else in the world and all the comfort He had in His entire Being was given to me at that moment. As an incredible result, all I could do was praise Him. He truly turned my mourning into dancing. It is powerful to feel so much pain and so much love, comfort…yes…even joy at the very same time. Powerful.
God is so real. His love is absolutely unconditional. His forgiveness is for everyone. No matter what. I hope you know the same God I know. If not, please search for Him. He is an awesome God!
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So, what’s your story? How did you come to know Christ? Share with us, either by writing about it on your blog and linking up with us, or by leaving a comment on this post.
Also, please visit as many blog links as you can to be encouraged by everyone’s story!
- Jodi at One Blessed Mama (Lord, You’re All I’ve Got)
- Carrie Smyth at Heavenly Homesteading
- Hallee the Homemaker
- Laurie
- Rebekah
- Jolene ~ A Random Woman’s Life
- Shonda
- Jenna at Homemaking Pilgrim
- Jen
- Trusting in His Name
- A Voice Crying Out
- Stephanie
- Barb
- Travelin Pilgrim
- Elizabeth
- Melanie
- You’re Next!
Mr. Linky is acting up…if you have a post to link up, leave it in the comments and I’ll add it manually as I can! Thanks!