My story.

[HELENz]

This is the longer version of my testimony... It's also posted on my Myspace, and I just copied it directly from there...

I have lived in a Christian family for all of my life... I was 'saved' in middle school. Last year, however, I became very frustrated with Christianity; I thought it was very hypocritical and I thought it was really idiotic; I thought it had no point; I thought it just preyed upon people's fears. I decided at this point that I wanted NOTHING to do with it. I became Agnostic, later becoming completely Atheist. I thought my life was perfectly fine at that point in time, but looking back now, I recognize that my life was just starting to take directions I did not want to take. No, I never got involved in drugs or alcohol, but I did do some things I'm not really that proud of. Very recently, I have had a couple of awful things happen in my life - stuff I NEVER had to deal with before. A friend of mine who had come to my youth group several times killed himself just over two months ago. Also,my then boyfriend punched me in the side of my head (tried to hit me in the face, but missed), because he was very possesive, and was angry because he didn't know where I was (long story behind that). I have also seen some of my friends fall in to the trap of abuse of drugs and alcohol, which saddens me. They're trying to avoid the pain in their lives that they can't deal with, and all drug abuse does is cause more pain.
That being said, these events eventually led me back to the ONLY thing that could give me total fulfillment in my life - Jesus. I rededicated my life to Christ, and I have never felt stronger or happier. I truly believe that God never turns his back on you; Like the story of the Prodigal Son, He will always be there to welcome you back, no matter how far you stray.
In Him, I have been given new life, and a new beginning, and I plan on living it to the full.

That is all. Hope you enjoyed it.

 

[Radiata]

It is wonderful that you came back to God. I find that doing so is hardest when intentionally turn away. If you had fallen away like I did, well, let's just say that there might not have been a place to return to. My testimony explains it further.

God Bless.

 

[HELENz]

Thanks for the comments. It was kind of hard returning back to Christianity; But I've noticed that my faith is actually stronger, since I went through my time of not-believing. I have more boldness in faith, as well. I'm not afraid of sharing my faith with others; I was very afraid of sharing my faith with others when I was younger; Now I leap for joy at these opportunities!

 

[Radiata]

Thanks for the comments. It was kind of hard returning back to Christianity; But I've noticed that my faith is actually stronger, since I went through my time of not-believing. I have more boldness in faith, as well. I'm not afraid of sharing my faith with others; I was very afraid of sharing my faith with others when I was younger; Now I leap for joy at these opportunities!

But what seems strange is that you had nothing to hold your faith when you left. The only way you could have come back is if you hadn't lost faith in the first place. If that's the case, I don't understand how you could have left so easily. If you understand God's love, you don't want to leave. I guess what I am saying is, how did you come back so easily when things were not going well for you?

 

[HELENz]

But what seems strange is that you had nothing to hold your faith when you left. The only way you could have come back is if you hadn't lost faith in the first place. If that's the case, I don't understand how you could have left so easily. If you understand God's love, you don't want to leave. I guess what I am saying is, how did you come back so easily when things were not going well for you?

I did completely lose my faith; And actually I'm not entirely sure I ever really had faith before now. I just went through the motions. I didn't really know what I was doing when I became saved; I didn't truly understand. I had a few times where I felt a spiritual "high", but I don't think I really had a strong faith in Christ. I just said I did. So it was not difficult for me to "turn from Christ"... My turning away from Christianity was probably mostly influenced by some of my friends and my ex-boyfriend (yes, the one in my testimony). I think that when I re-dedicated my life to Christ, that was the first time I had really broken down and realized how much I needed Christ; I couldn't go on much longer the way I had; I didn't want to.

 

[JPPT1974]

Just when you don't need Him
Then again you are wrong and
Do need Him. It is hard for some people
To go back to Him but it is well worth it.

 

[HELENz]

Just when you don't need Him
Then again you are wrong and
Do need Him. It is hard for some people
To go back to Him but it is well worth it.

Completely true! Especially considering when I left Christianity, my life was going well, and I thought I didn't need it; I came back when my life started going in directions I didn't want it to take!

HELENz