Beth’s Story

Before I truly began following Christ I had a constant need to seek approval from other people. I wanted to be liked. This caused me to be very hard on myself when something was not perfect. Everything from the way I looked to the activities I took part in were a part of this approval seeking attitude I had.

My happiness and security came from being very involved in many different “good” things, and from seeming to have it all together.

This was unfulfilling because I knew that at different instances I had let people down, and that there was no way that I could keep everyone happy. I felt like I was racing towards a goal that I would never be able to reach.

I accepted Christ into my life at a young age. I was attending a Vacation Bible School when I remember hearing about the opportunity to accept Christ into my life, and I knew that I needed Him to be my Savior.

I grew up in a family that modeled the love of Christ and shared his message from the time I was born. I continued to learn more and more about what it meant to have a personal relationship with Him as I grew older.

Before receiving Christ, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and guilt for even the smallest things.

On that day at VBS, I remember a feeling of excitement and nervousness coming over me, as I knew that this was a life changing decision. More importantly though, I remember a feeling of peace that reassured me of God’s love. The reality of who God and who Jesus were, was beginning to sink in.

Upon receiving Christ I began to see myself as a child of God who was loved no matter what I did or did not do. Life increasingly became an opportunity to live in the light of His love instead of a constant struggle to please everyone and do the right thing.

As I grew older, I continued to learn what it meant to walk with Jesus and I knew that He was always with me, through the good times and the bad. I especially remember this being true as I began to have friends who were dealing with difficult self-worth issues in middle and high school. I truly felt Jesus holding on to me during those times and allowing me to find my worth in Him. He was the firm foundation-the rock in my life, as written about by the Psalmist. This was also around the time that I started to read the Bible for myself, instead of just being taught it by someone else. It was a source of comfort and a guiding light in my life.

I am now motivated to live for the glory of God and not for myself. I know that this is possible not because I am good at trying really hard but because of the grace He has shown me. I am learning what it means to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit and I am excited to serve Him all the days of my life.