A Testimony of Grace

Though I haven't posted in a while, I've been planning this blog post for a while. The other day, I had a lovely photo shoot with my dear friend, Christine, capturing her testimony which she recently shared with me. The photos are meant to tell a story. Below is the string of pictures telling her testimony of God's grace in her life. 

After the pictures, I will add her written testimony. I pray this will be a strong and moving reminder of the love of Christ and "the immeasurable riches of his grace".

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"My name is Christine and I want to share with you how God took a chain in my life and turned it into a way I can give him glory. I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at a young age. When a friend asked me about why I was so different, I found myself without an answer. I examined my life to find the answer, and discovered that it was the joy that God had given me that made me different. This is when I made the choice to follow him on my own.Over the years I stumbled over sharing my faith because I could

not identify a key moment that turned my life around. Where was God working in my life? During the spring of eighth grade, my wrist started to hurt. I thought nothing of it until I started having trouble doing school

work and normal tasks. After trips to doctors, the pediatrician, a nerve specialist and a blood test, x­rays, and physical therapy, there was still no verdict on what was happening. This is when I started to get tired and upset at God. I often questioned, “Why are you letting this happen? And I have done everything I was supposed to do." I felt as if I was just talking to my wall and getting no response. In my isolation, I found myself becoming weighted down by this chain. The pain invaded my thoughts, influenced my actions, and led me further from God. That summer, I was told to enjoy myself, and then the doctors would take the next step. I went to a summer camp and did everything I wanted to do, but with mild pain. It has become tradition at this camp to have a youth worship night the last night before everyone goes home. On this particular evening, I found myself in the most pain I had been in. I was trying to worship God, but the pain created a barrier between me and God. One by one, people prayed over me, and then this counselor approached

me. I had never met her before, but she asked how she could pray for me. I told her about my pain and the wall it was building in my relationship with God. We prayed and she left. The very next day I found myself without pain. In fact, so much time passed that my doctor called me to see when I was coming back.

I was so thankful for God's healing. But of course, being human, I needed another reminder of how God works. That fall, I went to the chiropractor because I had never been to one and I was having mild back pain, later finding out it was a major misalignment. As it got worse, I again fell into the trap of saying "Why God? I thought I had already gone through this". As I prayed and prayed, I felt closer to God, but I drifted as the pain grew worse and worse, making me even not enjoy dancing, which I love.

One night I was reading my Bible and came across this verse: 2 Corinthians 12:8-­10. This is where Paul is taking about a pain in his life. "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." I had allowed my physical pain to cultivate doubt in my mind about the power of God. God wants to show his strength through our weakness. What does this mean? I was helplessly bound in the chain of pain and distrust. Through my weakness, God stepped in and showed his power and the beautiful and total

transformation he brings. The freedom that God offers is not without struggle. I will always have pain in my life. But, his freedom is satisfying and fulfilling. Each chain in our lives is a reminder of our need for God and

our need to be aware of how he is working in our lives. My chain showed me the importance of surrendering my health and life to God. I wanted to have control of my freedom but that just left me stuck in chains. The first step I made was to open my hands to God who is waiting patiently for you to turn to him. Now, I

am enjoying the freedom that Christ offers and the new identity of 'Free.'"