A Testimony of God's Grace

The beauty and intricacy of God’s creation has always captivated me. Even as a very young child I began to see the “bigness” – the awesomeness of God through his creation. More than that, though, I knew about God as he is revealed in his written word, the Bible, because of my parents’ teaching me about God’s character, his laws, our sinfulness, and our need for reconciliation with him. At age five I asked God to forgive my sins though the sacrifice of Jesus Christ his son and to teach me to follow him. At the time, my understanding of God’s holiness and my detestable sinfulness was very small.

Romans 3:23 says,
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.


I knew God was good and I was not, but I did not have a great grasp on how far I really did and do still fall short of the holiness of God. He did, even with such little understanding, give me the beginning of great desire to know God and be with God. As I grow in knowledge and faith I learn more and more the horror of my sin and the depth of my sinful character. This alone would, of course, be devastating, but I also continued to learn and experience the depth of God’s mercy and grace knowing that the penalty for my sins has been paid by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Romans 5:8 says,
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Not only have I been justified by his sacrifice, but he continually grows my character and molds me to his perfect character. Although, in this life in this earthly body – my flesh, I will always have sinful desires, God faithfully sanctifies me – that is, he teaches me and enables me to live in more complete submission to him and to model his character. As he does this work in me, he increases my capacity to experience the greatest joy and pleasure possible under any circumstance, whether in scarcity or abundance, happiness or sorrow. That great joy and pleasure that no circumstance can destroy is simply being in the presence of God. Though my sins and weaknesses still keep me from seeking my greatest joy in submission and obedience to God which leads to wonderful fellowship with him, he is merciful and persistent in his guidance.

That was a pretty broad overview without any specific events other than my initial conversion, but there have been many significant events and lessons along the way – all used by God to teach me and bring me closer to him. Here are a few of those events:


- My baptism at age nine
- Learning the importance of reading the Bible on my own at
age 11
- Beginning a more consistent habit of reading the Bible daily in middle school
- Seeking God during a time of doubt and feeling of terrible distance from God during my freshman year of college.
- two and a half months in Peru on a summer mission trip during college
- engagement
- marriage
- having children

There are more, and more detailed stories behind each, but each event’s commonality is that God was at work every time. I know he will continue to lovingly guide me. Philippians 1:6 says,

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

I pray that God continually increases that desire for him that he gave me 23 years ago as a small child.