My story is one of experiencing God’s redeeming and unconditional love, even when I was unfaithful to Him. I grew up in a Christian home in Virginia, surrounded by family who taught me about Jesus and encouraged me in my faith. I accepted Him as my Savior at summer camp around age 10 and was baptized as a teenager—but at that time, it was more about doing what I thought was expected than truly understanding what it meant to follow Him.
For many years, my relationship with God was built on performance. I pictured Him as distant and disappointed—watching from above, keeping track of my failures. No matter how hard I tried to be “good enough,” I felt like I was always falling short. That pressure led to perfectionism, fear, and anxiety. I thought I had to hold everything together to earn His approval, but the harder I tried, the emptier I felt.
As I got older, I started looking to the world for relief and fulfillment. I turned to things and people that promised comfort, and I became addicted to that false sense of relief. I became overpowered and controlled by my selfish desires. Just like the Prodigal Son, I slowly chose the temporary pleasures of the world over the safe, loving home of my Father, who had an inheritance in store for me that was far more valuable than anything the world could ever offer me. But God wasn’t done fighting for my heart.
Three years ago, my life fell apart. I had nowhere and no one to turn to and finally cried out to God, saying, “I can’t do this anymore—please help me.” That was the first time I had talked to God in a very long time, but that didn’t matter to Him. I felt His arms wrap around me that night, and I felt a safety and love that I had never felt before. He said, “Welcome back home, my daughter. I have been sitting right here waiting for you since the day you left.” From that moment, my healing began. God surrounded me with grace through my family and friends, and He reminded me through the story of the Prodigal Son that His love had never left me.
Two years ago, I moved to Greenville and prayed for a fresh start—and God has answered those prayers abundantly. He’s given me a church family at Fellowship Greenville, Christ-centered friendships, and a deeper love for His Word. He continues to refine me daily, teaching me to surrender control and trust Him fully.
Today, I’m getting baptized as an outward expression of my love for Jesus and my deep gratitude for His sacrifice, for choosing me and loving me first, even in my unfaithfulness. I want to publicly declare that I am dying to myself and now desire to live for Him alone. As Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”