Jenny’s Story
My family attended mass most Sundays growing up. Though I agreed with most of the teachings I was taught, I never felt a true connection. I started to go to a youth group at a nondenominational church. At first I was hesitant and unsure of the whole idea. They said some different things from what I was taught growing up. As I continued to go to this youth group, however, I started to look deeper into what I believed about God and our purpose on this earth.
As time went on, I really started to feel a connection with this youth group and that they were teaching. The bible says over and over again how much God loves us and wants to be in our everyday life (church was just about Sunday mornings!), but throughout all my church-experience growing up, I don’t remember been told about that. I don’t remember being told that God wants us to receive Christ as our own as our personal savior, and wants to live in us. I don’t remember hearing that BECAUSE I am imperfect and sinful, Christ died on the cross for ME- so that I could experience eternal life. I truly thought I was going to heaven because I was a “good girl.” This whole new perspective really made sense to me and I started to make a strong connection. Despite what I now believed in and how much I loved and was a part of this new way of life, however, I was very distracted, and my priority in life was not seeking out God. I still sought out acceptance from the people around me and doing well in school, instead of in Christ, who died for me and already provided me the ultimate acceptance and love.
It took me a year and a half to finally surrender my life to God. I was at a national youth conference in Washington DC when I finally felt ready to surrender my life to Him. Never before had I felt such a rush of love, happiness and security in my life.
Since then, my life has been completely different. My walk with the Lord has grown increasingly and I can honestly say that I experience God every day. I don’t have to seek acceptance and love from anything but Christ! This is not to say that my life has been easy or that I have gotten everything I ever wanted and everything makes sense. In fact, I have had serious struggles and setbacks. But, I know in the depths of my heart that God is in control and he has a PERFECT plan for my life. I can think of no better way to express my gratitude towards Christ for redeeming me than Acts 20:24: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Check out http://www.everybadger.com to explore questions about life and God.
