What was life like before you met Jesus?
I grew up in a Christian household, and I have always known about God. Given this, it was often easy to project that I was a Christian. In reality, it was more so my family’s faith rather than my own. I attended church every Sunday with my family, but outside of church, it was all too easy to say I was a Christian, even though some of my actions didn’t reflect that.
How did you meet Jesus?
The moment I started pursuing God with my own Faith also happens to be one of the most emotionally traumatizing and worst periods of my life. It all began after my older sister passed away unexpectedly. I was, unfortunately, the person to find her, and as a 13-year-old at the time, it was extremely detrimental to my mental health. I fell into a season of depression and was angry at God for a very long time. I constantly questioned why he would take such a kind and happy person out of my life. Going into my 8th-grade year was very challenging for me while I continued to struggle with overwhelming emotions. Before school started, I got all new school supplies, including a new book bag. Although this may seem like a minor detail, it is crucial to how I grew closer to the Lord. About a month into the year, I was still severely struggling with my mental health and trying to grasp the fact that my older sister was not coming back. One random day at school, I reached into the side pocket of my backpack and I pulled out this little folded piece of paper. When I unfolded this piece of paper, it was a picture of my family, drawn in crayon, with everyone's names labeled, " Dad, Mom, Daniel, Grace, Ellie, Faith, Mocha." My older Sister had Down Syndrome and loved to color pictures. At the top of the drawing was a note written in very distinct handwriting that said, " I love you, Dad, I like you, Dad." It was very clear that my older sister, Grace, had written the note. Given that my older sister had passed away before I got this new backpack, I was very confused as to how this picture that I had never seen before got into the side pocket of my bag. I brought it home and gave it to my dad, brushed off my confused feeling, and went on with my life. Again, about a week later, I was still struggling with emotions, and I reached into my side pocket for a pencil and pulled out this little, tiny, folded piece of paper. This time, the note said, " I love you, Ellie, I like you, Ellie." Again, the handwriting was very distinctly my sister's handwriting. At this moment, I knew God was giving me a sign. He was telling me that everything was going to be okay because my sister's death had a purpose, and he had a plan for my life. I have always believed in God and trusted that I would one day get to meet him in heaven. Although my sister's passing caused me a lot of grief and anger, it also gave me hope. I realized heaven was going to be the next place I could see her again. This sense of grief and hope, helped me to dive deeper into my faith, and fully claim it as my own instead of my family’s faith. Matthew chapter 11:28-30 says, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” These verses remind me that God is in control, and all he does has a purpose for the better in my life.
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
After this eye-opening moment in my life, I started seeking Jesus as my own. I started attending weekly counseling sessions to help control my feelings of anger and sadness. I also began reading my own daily devotions, apart from the ones we read every night as a family, as well as reading my bible. Although being a Christian in the world that we live in can sometimes be difficult, the Lord has been gracious and given me so many amazing people to help guide me in my walk with him. Moving to college has also been a huge blessing because I am surrounded by my church and SALT community, who encourage me daily to seek the Lord in all that I do. It has now been six years since my sister Grace passed away, and although I was baptized as a baby, I am now ready to be baptized to proclaim this faith in Jesus as my own and flourish in my walk with Christ. Romans 8:28 says - “And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” I remind myself that I am made for a purpose and that specific purpose is to serve God and show others how gracious and loving of a Lord he is.