My Testimony of God’s Grace and My Salvation by Karen McLean

My family moved every five years.  I learned how to be adaptable but never had a feeling of “home” other than where we lived at the time.  When I was 7or 8, we attended church for a year or so, and then something happened, and our family never stepped foot in a church again.  As a result, I grew up guided by worldly values and influences without (much of) a faith foundation.  Life showed me many hardships:  a serious illness, the death of my daughter and later my father, a failed marriage, watching the grip of addictions over people I loved, financial ruin, another marriage, abuse, divorce, numerous legal battles.  I found myself supporting 2 young sons alone and having no other goals than just trying to survive.  My life was a mess, and I was afraid, depressed, exhausted and depleted.   Desperate, I prayed for help, and God answered by guiding me to a church.  It was awkward at first because I felt so out of place, but I went anyway.   Then one Sunday, in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer, I realized I had, indeed, been delivered from evil.  What had before felt like a lifetime of failure and pain suddenly felt like freedom, and I was overcome with gratitude.  It was right then that my old life ended, and I was reborn as I accepted the gift of salvation and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life.  Peace replaced fear.  The shame, guilt, anger, resentment were gone.  God allowed me to unload all that, and when I did, He freed up so much energy!  Then He provided opportunities for me to serve Him.  Who would have ever thought I would teach Sunday school or lead youth groups, women’s ministries or Bible studies??!! God has placed so many good people in my path and has taught me how to build healthy relationships.  He is the source of tremendous strength.  He is the source of all good things.  Living for Jesus means that I have compassion for people who suffer.  Because of His love, I can now love better.  Because of His mercy, I have learned to forgive.  Because He is faithful, my faith in Him continues to grow.  He’s shown me that Our Father is always reaching out to us.  He never gave up on me, and I now have a home – an eternal one.

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