Four years ago I felt incredibly alone. Granted, I was never really alone, but it certainly felt that way. I had been convinced my whole life that I could only really trust myself. If something needed to be done, I needed to be the one to make sure it got done right. I was really hard on myself because I believed that I should be perfect, and could be if I just tried harder. I was a selfish, uptight, closed off control freak with a whole lot of resentment and at times explosive anger. I was no longer the giggly little girl people once knew. I was lost.

Now, I’m giving Jesus my life. He has continued to bless me with vision, conviction, and grace. Just as He has healed the blind, He has opened my eyes to see more and more all the ways in which He has been walking with me, and protecting me all my life – often from myself.

I’ll be honest, I thought my testimony was a boring one. But it’s not my story. It’s God’s story. And I don’t know how far y’all are in the Bible, but our God does not write boring stories.

I’m here because my dad taught me that we don’t come here for ourselves. Yes, we receive spiritual renewal and all these great things from the Church, but we are here to give to the Kingdom. I’m not sure what God may put on your hearts to take from my testimony, but my truth of the goodness of God is all I have to give to you today.

I thought God would bring me closer to some imaginary perfection, but what he’s really been doing is helping me let go. The things of this world have started to mean less, because He means so much. He means forgiveness. He means love. He means patience. My faith in God has given me a peace like nothing else.

Knowing what I am without God, strengthens me to offer the love and grace I’ve received to others. I can love others because He first loved me. I can let go of my past iniquities, just as He did through Jesus.

I’m so grateful to be entering a phase where God is bringing into fruition all the things I prayed my whole life for. He continues to heal my family, bringing us closer to him and to each other, I’m entering a career where I get to do what I love by serving children, and I’m developing authentic, Christ-centred relationships.

And I know that no matter how badly I want to, I will not steward these gifts well on my own. I stand here today because it’s time to let go of the old me to make room for all that God has next.