I’m not ashamed of my past. Before I met Jesus, I went through a lot of hard times and walked through a lot of dark places. Jesus used the things of my past to situate me in a point of surrender. It was in this place of desperation that I opened my heart to God’s love and allowed him to be the king of my life and the healer of my heart. What were once real struggles in my life are now important experiences that allow me to encourage others in similar situations that Jesus is the answer of hope I had been looking for my whole life. Now, I view all of my past struggles as victories won through the power of Jesus’ love for me.
In the last few weeks, God has opened up a lot of doors for me to have the opportunity to share my story and pray with several people. He has gently made me aware that as his daughter, my story is powerful and significant. I really believe he has called me to share it as a way to give all of the glory from my life to Him.
I struggled with depression and various addictions for several years during middle and early high school. Then, two years ago, I tried to end my life. I believed the lies of the enemy, thought my life had no purpose, and tried to commit suicide. But by his grace, Jesus considered me worthy, loved me, and walked into my life. When I gave my heart to Jesus, he gave me a sense of purpose for my life. He gave my my will to live back, and now it is my joy and desire to live my life for him and him alone!
I am now found as a child in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” My new life is one of victory and confidence. Jesus washed my previous life of shame and fear away when he died on the cross for me. As soon as I accepted Jesus into my heart, my old life died along with the rest of the sins of humanity with Jesus on the cross. But the best part of the story of Jesus is that he didn’t stay dead! And because Jesus rose from the grave, I didn’t have to remain a slave to my addiction, depression, and sin.
It is my prayer that my story will serve as an encouragement to all those who hear it. I hope that my life will testify that no matter what you have walked through in your life, Jesus offers you new life in Him. New life full of purpose. My every waking moment is full of meaning when I consider how priceless it is to draw nearer to the Lord. I pray that every one of you who has questioned God’s purpose for your life will discover the same joy as you draw nearer to Jesus.
“Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ Jesus was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life!” Romans 6:3-4
