I was slowly dying... but God saved my life.

Описание: When we repent and share our stories, we set ourselves free.
This is my testimony - Not only about how I came to Christ, but how Christ came to me.

Trapped within the limitations of my own mind, I used every outlet imaginable to escape the reality in my head that I created, which was that a life of suffering was one that God wanted us to somehow relish in. Past traumas from early childhood experiences shaped and controlled my life. As a result, it lead me to live out the next ten years trying to prove my worth to family, friends, and even to God - by taking part in some of the most extreme life decisions that ultimately left me with traumas and negative experiences that I am still actively working to overcome. The same life I had created from this mentality was the same life I was desperately trying to avoid through sinful and self-destructive habits that gave me a temporary escape. Below are a list of damaging beliefs that I had lived and abided by for over ten years of my life.

1.) I had to EARN my value as a person and earn my way into Heaven.
2.) My own desires were sins, even things I was thoroughly interested in and enjoyed.
3.) We were somehow called to suffer in the same way Christ did. (We already suffer simply by being apart from Him).
4.) A life that was enjoyed meant you weren't working hard enough. Enjoying life felt shameful and wrong.
5.) I am not enough as I am and must do something outside of myself to earn praise or admiration from both God and the people in my life.

UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS I had to LEARN with Scripture to prove it:

1. God DOES want us to enjoy life and take bearings over the Earth. (Ecclesiastes 5:18 and 2:24).

2. Our natural talents and interests are gifts from God. It is displeasing to The Lord NOT to share them with the world. (1 Peter 4:10).

3. Your works don't save you. It is by Grace that you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9).

4. YOU ARE WORTHY - Made in His image, you have inherent value as a human and reign over all of Earth's creation. God wants us to rule the Earth as He rules the Heavens. He wants to reign WITH us, not apart from us. (Genesis 1:28).

5. A life without joy and pure suffering IS sinful by nature. (Romans 15:13).

If you or someone you know is suffering mentally or spiritually, please seek help immediately or through the following links below:

988lifeline.org (Crisis and Suicide Hotline)

1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or [email protected]. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provides support, education, and advocacy for mental health conditions.

OR through...

betterhelp.com
https://www.christiansncrisis.com/ - 1-844-472-9687

God loves all of us. And he loves YOU.