Testimonies

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I had a pretty dysfunctional childhood. My parents divorced when I was just seven years old, and our family was split up then. I had two siblings, a sister two years older and a baby brother, and we were never together as a family after that. Over the years I lived in many different homes, with nearly every relative we had and some families who were not relatives. Some of these homes were as dysfunctional as my own had been. I felt unloved, abandoned, and fearful of what the future held for me.

I learned very early to obey all the rules of the home in which I lived at the time because life was much more pleasant for me when I did. I tried very hard to please everyone because I thought this would make them like me. I worked diligently in school and made honor roll nearly every grade period. But I was distrustful of people and found it hard to make friends, and I was extremely jealous of the few I did have.

Then I had a life-changing experience.

When I was twelve years old, I lived for a time with an aunt and her family. They were Christians and attended church regularly, and of course I attended with them. One Sunday, through a message about the Crucifixion, God led me to see that He loved me, unconditionally. The idea that I had to work hard, to "do something" to make Him love me was replaced by joy and a sense of belonging. Fear of the future disappeared and was replaced by a sense of confidence in the God Who cared enough for me to give His Son to die for me, and Who had a plan for my future. God began to change my attitude toward others too, and I have had so many friends to love and to love me over the years.

Some of those changes didn't happen overnight, though. My jealousy and suspicious nature caused many quarrels between my husband and me, and in other relationships as well. Over time, God led me to know that my jealousy was really just selfishness. I asked Him to forgive me for putting myself first in my life. He gives me strength day by day to put Him first.

I am so very glad that God looked upon this "cast-away" child with such great love, and that His wonderful plan for me, made before the world began, included "bringing good from the evil" the enemy intended. I am so glad that He is so trustworthy that I could learn how to trust from Him. I'm glad that He still has wonderful plans for me, and that one of those plans includes the fact that if I died today I would go to live with Him in Heaven.

God has wonderful plans for you, too. His plans are designed so that you may come to know His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. No matter where you have been and where you are right now, He wants you to know that He loves you. Won't you trust Him right now to "bring good out of evil," to give you life for the here-and-now and for eternity?

Oh, dear Father, we are all "cast-aways" while we struggle with our own efforts toward goodness and rightness. We have a longing, placed in our hearts by You, to be drawn into Your arms of safety and love. Thank You that You love us so much that You never cease drawing and pulling us to that which we know is Home, and that You do bring great “good out of that which is meant for evil!"

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