Your testimony can be defined as “a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience,” and this is often what we think of when we hear this word used in the church today. However, a testimony is also defined as a “formal written or spoken statement,” and since many who are reading this are supporting me financially and/or in prayer, I thought it would be a good idea to tell my story.
This is my written statement (testimony):
I used to think that my testimony wasn’t “cool” because I didn’t undergo any major difficulties growing up, but I’ve since found that my story isn’t just cool, it’s unique and amazing because the person at the center of it is Jesus.
I grew up in a christian home, going to church on Sundays, Bible studies on Wednesdays, I was home-schooled, my parents taught me right from wrong and what it means to be a christian, etc. And I accepted Christ when I was pretty young. As I found out when I went to college though, the Christian faith is about more than going through the motions (@Matthew West).
As soon as I got to college, my faith started to crumble. It was still there and I knew what to do/how to do it, but I didn’t understand yet what it meant to live out my faith.
I wasn’t one who went from being a “good Christian kid” in high school to party animal in college. But, I did stop going to church for a while, I surrounded myself with mainly non-believers, and I fell into some bad habits. The only thing keeping me from not living out my faith at all was a once a week Bible study that a pastor I’d known for years put on.
This continued until I finally couldn’t take the emptiness inside of me and the roller coaster of emotions anymore. I remember just breaking down one night, knowing I needed to change.
And God answered.
Since then, God has blessed me beyond what I ever imagined. My faith has grown stronger, my emotions and mentality have changed for the better, and I have an amazing network of people to lean on and walk through life with. God has not only saved me (I honestly don’t know where I’d be without Him), He has changed my life for the better in ways that I can’t even begin to fully describe.
That all was about a year and a half ago. Now, I look at where I was and where I’m going and all I can do is say, “Praise God!” I went from the lowest point in my life to preparing to travel the world for Him and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now, you may ask “how’d you take the first step?”
My answer would be: talk to somebody.
God has created His church for a reason. Use it. If you’re struggling (or even if you’re not) I would encourage you to just find one person you can open up with and let it all go. Ecclesiastes 4:10,12 says, “for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up… And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him–a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
So, that’s my written story. I still struggle and hit pits, but I also know that Christ will never let me down and I can walk boldly because of that, knowing that it’s ok to fall, as long as I look back up to Him and keep making progress.
