It Is Well With My Soul

'And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.' - Philippians 1:6 (ESV)This autobiography is my declaration that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He has done good works in me and through me.I am not writing these pages to polish my image. I am writing them because I cannot stay quiet about what God has done. If my salvation were based on people’s perceptions of me, I would be headed toward a dim reality. That is not exaggeration. It is truth. People’s perception of me has never captured the true core of who I am, what I carried, what I hid, what I feared, what I fought, what I tried to outrun, and what I desperately needed healing from.For most of my life, other people’s opinions did not bother me much, and I told myself that was strength. In a way, it was. Their distance often kept them away from the mess I did not know how to explain. For an introverted, unsettled person, it was easy to believe I did not need anyone’s approval. I kept moving. I stayed busy. I stayed guarded. I learned how to function without letting people get too close.But there is a difference between independence and isolation. Looking back now, I can see I was not only protecting myself from judgment, but also from being known. And being unknown is a lonely kind of survival. Then God stepped in. Not because I was impressive. Not because I had it together. Not because I was searching so hard for Him. But because He is faithful, and mercy is what He does.Jesus did a lot of work in me. I can say that with a smile now, but it is the honest truth: I was a project. A complicated one. Not an easy task. But God does not get intimidated by human brokenness. He is not discouraged by the parts of us we are ashamed of. He does not back away from the places where we feel stuck. He does not give up when we fall into old patterns. He does not leave when we struggle with doubt. He does not abandon us because our progress is slow.'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' - Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)God is patient, and I am living proof.'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature...' - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)Each day brings me closer to Him, not because I am earning something, but because I am learning to abide, trust, and surrender. I am learning that His love is not a theory, but a Person, a Savior who meets you in the dark and teaches you how to walk in the light.The story you are about to read is my path to salvation. It includes a traumatic childhood, rebellious teenage years, and struggles I once believed would define me forever. It includes seasons when I did not recognize God’s hand and seasons when His presence became unmistakable. It includes grief, joy, discipline, and grace so personal that I cannot deny the Author.Through it all, one truth stands above every chapter: God had a plan for me.'For I know the plans I have for you, saith the LORD...' - Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)And if you are reading this, I believe God has a plan for you too.My prayer is simple: that those who read my story will discover or reaffirm their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. That they will see how the Lord redeems what feels ruined, restores what seems lost, and changes a person from the inside out. Jesus does not call the perfect. He calls the willing. And if He can do a work in me, He can do a work in anyone.'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' - Matthew 11:28 (KJV)This is my testimony. This is my declaration. This is the story of how grace found me and how Jesus is still writing the chapters. 6