In November, I had the privilege of sharing my testimony at church. I thought, as I reflect on everything God has done for me in 2012, that I’d share it with you here over the next few days. Happy New Year, friends – may we see God move this year in ways we never have before.
You’re 34. It now takes more than the fingers on both hands to count the years since you’ve been kissed. You weather the doctor’s appointments where he tells you that, when it comes to having children someday, you’re probably going to need “some help.” You don’t go to weddings by yourself anymore. You send your regrets. And you go to Jesus on those nights, pouring out your hurts and your pain and your loneliness to Him. You learn more and more to go to Him first, to put Him first, and to find peace in Him.
You do things you always dreamed of doing. You start training to run a half-marathon. You quit your job to start your own writing business. You get up in front of your congregation to tell them your story, how you’ve tried to honor God with your relationships, how you’ve given over all your hopes and dreams and striving to Him. You finally find peace in your place in God’s kingdom, and you realize that peace doesn’t come unless you’ve first fought a battle. And you’ve fought, so hard and so long, to make your life fit your plans. And you’ve found the beautiful surrender of letting God’s dreams for you blow your own dreams away. His story is so much bigger, so much more powerful, than you ever thought. You see how His hand of love and faithfulness has been weaving your story into His all along.
He wants all of you. And He’s wanted you all along. And life is so good when you let Him have you. All of you.