The Power of God in a Simple Testimony

Have you ever wondered if your testimony is somehow lacking in the power of God? Like, just maybe, there was never a cosmic shift. Was there really rejoicing in the heavens when you came to know the Lord? Have you compared your story with those of the people around you? Friend, I’ve deeply felt those things, and if your testimony feels anything like this, I’m sure you have too. I’m here to encourage you that there is remarkable grace in a story like this. And one that is touched in every way by the power of God.

I don’t remember not knowing about God. Growing up in a Christian-influenced household made for a picturesque childhood. Though, like any family unit, it wasn’t perfect. In my experience, certain wounds caused pain that wasn’t immediately apparent but resurfaced years later. Yet even amidst the valleys we walked through, I can still testify that my parents went to significant lengths to make sure we understood the Gospel and strongly encouraged my siblings and me from a young age to truly know God. To pursue a relationship with Him in a way that transforms the very facet of our beings. This is the basis of my story and signifies the start of a journey that God is wondrously still writing.

The Power of God From The Beginning

I do not remember the specific age I came to a saving faith. However, I remember where I was, who I was with, and how I felt when I received the Holy Spirit. It was during my stay at Spruce Lake Wilderness Camp, a Christian camp in Pennsylvania. I was most likely around 8 years old, and I was accompanied by my best friend. I was unaware of the impact this event would have on my life at the time and what was to follow. At this point, I was familiar with the idea of God. I knew he created and loved me, but I did not quite grasp the concept of salvation. The day my soul was magnificently rescued by grace was just the start of a profound journey with my Heavenly Father, which would shape and transform the rest of my life.

The Power of God in Salvation

I prayed “the prayer” with my camp counselor. I knew my natural depravity was not something that I could recover from on my own, and the need for a higher power to save me from its consequences was great. What a treasure that I did not need to go to great lengths to find out what that divine power was because I found it in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I did not need to have my life cleaned up. It did not need to look pretty or even desirable. I only needed to be willing, and by the grace of God, I was.

The moment I received the Holy Spirit, I felt a newness that was not there before. I remember joy overflowing. Yet, as completely miraculous as that was, I had the thought: “Is this it?” “Wasn’t this supposed to feel more, umm, powerful?” “Now what?” “Was this an emotional response or truly the power of God?”

Returning to Reality

I came home from that camp a new creation! At the time, I wish I realized how precious that was because, at the moment, it didn’t feel like much had changed. I returned to my family, continued attending church, and read Scripture more and more. I was still a very insecure tween who had LOTS of maturing to do. Yet even as a young child, I was convinced that walking in obedience to God was the best way to navigate life.

I walked faithfully before God through the unsettling waters of middle school. Trials of friendships, clothing, makeup, and these fascinating creatures called boys, gave me real opportunities to put this faith I possessed into practice. I absolutely experienced times when I doubted, probably more than I’d like to admit. Don’t we all? But looking back at it now, how amazing is it that God allows the wrestling? Can sanctification truly happen without trials? I don’t believe it can.

The Power of God to Carry and Keep

And just like that I was a high schooler trying not to be driven by the high of hormones. As a 15-year-old, my faith began to solidify and I truly began loving the Bible and was hungry to learn more about who God was. Those years were crucial for me as a believer. Surrounded by nurturing friendships, older Christ-like influences, and parents who were careful to lead me in the right direction, I graduated an entirely different person.

Looking back, I am amazed at how much the Lord protected me. The power of God held me in a way that is difficult to explain. Although there were times that I recall experiencing the temptation to take my eyes off Christ and fix them on the natural and sometimes boiling desires of my teenage heart, He always gently drew me back. He was faithful to keep me. There was no possible way I could have navigated High School the way I did if it was not for the power of God sovereignly leading me through it. Isaiah 26:4 states, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord our God is an everlasting Rock”. He was just that for me. A Rock. A firm foundation, and to this day, I am eternally grateful.

Ending Thoughts

I am currently an almost 29-year-old, happy wife and Mom of 3. Within the passing years, so much hardship has taken place, followed by an enormous amount of blessings. A great deal of chipping, molding, deconstructing, and rebuilding took place.

The journey of sanctification is such a paradox, isn’t it? I’m brought to tears as I write this because only the power of God could capture a young child’s heart and lead them through 20 years of life.

One aspect I’ve come to notice within the realm of Christian culture is that there is this unspoken predisposition that the anticlimactic testimonies are the ones gently brushed under the rug. They aren’t the ones really seen, plastered on headlines, or published in books. I remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to share my story because it didn’t include the dramatic physical and spiritual life shifts that many other testimonies include (which, understandably so, are absolutely incredible!)

I share my testimony with an eagerness for all believers to speak of the wonderful works of the Lord no matter what way they take place. Quiet and simple, or irrevocably spectacular. All stories of redemption are beautiful and contain the unattainable power of God. They ignite us with hope. Encourage us to persevere. Remind us that every child of God has this common ground with a Master Writer, our Sovereign God, who orchestrates a grand chronicle for all of His image-bearers, and each is a story worth sharing.

Want to read more about the power of sharing your testimony and how deeply rooted it is in Scripture? Watch this quick video.

Last but not least, if you’re interested in learning a little more about me and my family, check it out here.