I was born into a Christian home, but my faith did not become my own until I was 14 years old. Growing up in a special need’s family was a blessing because I saw major miracles every day. I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior when I was 7 years old, but I never grew beyond a baby faith.
I didn’t understand it at the time, but I trusted my parents to trust God rather than trusting God myself. I went to church, knew all the songs, listened to the Bible, but never had a real relationship. I believed God was real, but it wasn’t real to me.
At 14 years old I became the primary caretaker to my mother when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through other circumstances at the time I had no friends, and no reason to pretend to be a Christian. On one of the few days my family was able to go to church the pastor was bragging on his wife that ‘even in the chaos of 2 year old children at home she is able to sit and read James.’
Later that week, when I had come to the end of myself, I opened my Bible for myself in the first time in years. The passage I read says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (NASB95)
I have been seeking God’s Wisdom ever since, and it is a true joy to love Him in my life today.
