Looking back I can see that Gods protection has been on me in so many ways...
Growing up in a Christian family and choosing to follow Jesus from an early age, my experience has been a little different from some others. Although I havent had the dramatic conversion experience that some people have had, I know that my story is no less amazing! Looking back I can see that Gods protection has been on me in so many ways, and that my life is safe in His hands. There is so much I want to say as I think of the ways God has blessed me, and as I believe His hand of blessing continues to rest on me and follow me wherever I go. Walking with God from an early age hasnt meant that Ive led a trouble-free life: far from it. Ive made some mistakes and wrong choices, and Ive experienced things that I wouldnt have chosen to. But despite these things, I still believe God has been with me and has only the best intentions for me.
For example, I moved around a lot growing up, and at times I really struggled to fit in and make friends and always felt different and a misfit. I often felt alone and this left me with little confidence in myself. Even though I felt like this, God still positioned people around me who really cared and believed in me and encouraged me to keep going and to stick with God. So even though Ive been through some things that have been difficult, and these things have left me feeling confused, regretful and even ashamed, I know that God has been with me all along, not pointing the finger or wanting to punish me, but knowing exactly how I felt and always wanting to reach out and help. I really want to stress how much I believe God is completely good, and that He is for us rather than against us. I believe that whatever happens his intentions are for our good. I am so encouraged by reading these verses from Romans 8 in the Bible:
"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, wont he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honour at Gods right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christs love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day we are being slaughtered like sheep.") No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from Gods love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from Gods love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Today, I am so aware of Gods blessing in real-life things, small and big. God has given me a wonderful place to live, great people to live with, a job I like, and an exciting church to be part of. He really has set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walk along (Psalm 40:2).
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