I've been trying to find the words to write for a long time. So many things have happened these past two years yet so much goodness has come from it! So now it's time to dust off the past and rewrite a new story, a story about reigning in life and putting the past behind me!
About a year and a half ago I almost gave up on my faith. I was beat down by the world around me and was hurt by comments made from two pastors who I looked up to the most. The truth was, I was a mess. I was struggling with the rebuilding at our church, I was struggling with being the only person out of my group of friends who was left in Brookings, I was struggling with family members health problems, and I still struggle with where to go next with my career. I ended up in such a deep hole that I walked away from church for awhile.
Within that dark period of my life, I was looking at Gracepoint Wesleyan as it had been a church I wanted to attend for a long time. I had gone a couple times while in college and really enjoyed it, but the size of the church terrified me. So I decided to sign up for a small group knowing that I needed to make a change and fast. I went one week, and was instantly turned off because the small group turned into 40 people, and it scared me away! But God knew what I needed, and even though I didn't stick with the group, He pushed me to continue reading our small group book. The book was called Unglued by Lysa Terkurst and boy did her words hit me straight to the core! I loved that book so much that I started to look for more of her books, I ended up finding Lysa's book Uninvited which at the time was exactly what I needed to read because it was literally my life in a small span of 200 pages. This past spring I again started to look at more growth groups, I found a care group called "Darkness to Light". In that group I learned that I could use what I was struggling with for the good and that I am not alone in this world because I have God on my side and He will never let go, even on the days where I'm not so loveable.
Fast forward to the present, I faced my fears and started going to Gracepoint full time in April. Two months later I joined the First Impressions team where I get to brew delicious coffee on Sunday mornings and help with community events which Gracepoint puts on! I'm also a youth leader at GSM where I get to lead a great group of 8th grade ladies and share many laughs and stories with them! These past few months at Gracepoint have truly been a gift from God. This church family took me in as I was, and has completely changed my heart and mind. I'm loved, accepted, and finding new friends, and my fellow youth leaders have been an amazing addition to my life. I'm thankful for all of them and grateful for the encouragement they've given me along this new journey!
God knew where I needed to be all along and I can finally close the door from the past and look forward to what's to come. I will forever be grateful for my time at Abundant Life, I made many friends and learned so much along the way. I believe everything at AL happened for a reason, and I have no right to hold a grudge anymore, but instead I need to forgive and move on. Here's to new beginnings, new stories, and new memories. Praise God for that!
