When I was a kid, it was trendy to bring people before the church to give their testimony about how they got saved. More often than not, it seemed like these people had been saved out of all sorts of horrible things: drug use, promiscuity, alcoholism, prostitution, crime, etc.
It made for a dramatic testimony of the power of Christ to save even the worst of the worst, but it often left those of us who had grown up in the church, had been saved at a young age, and had never really done much “bad stuff” feeling somewhat ashamed of our testimonies. As though they were too boring to tell.
Recently, I was listening to an older lady give her testimony. She was saved in her 30s, and prior to that had been promiscuous and had a couple of failed marriages. But what struck me most about her story was not that Christ saved her from these things (although that was certainly amazing and glorious), but that this lady so regretted her past sins that said she used to sit and weep ask God, “Why didn’t You save me sooner?”.
And it hit me. This lady would have given anything for a “boring” testimony like mine. She has scars and shame that, while covered and forgiven by the blood of Christ, she will always remember and regret.
If you were saved at a young age and never really did anything “bad”, you, too, have a beautiful testimony that you should never be ashamed of. God not only saved you from your sin, He saved you before you could do many evil things that you would later look back on and regret.
Lots of your brothers and sisters in Christ would give anything to have a “boring” testimony like yours.
Michelle Lesley 
Amen and amen! I cannot say Amen enough to this. I would love to have grown up in a family that sought to honor the Lord with their lives and with the upbringing of their kids. There are still elements of my BC days that I hope no one ever finds out about. I’m grateful that our King saved me from them, of course, more than I can put into words. But I sure wish those things had never happened.
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I have a testimony that is similar. I grew up in a Christian home, prayed the prayer when I was 5 and lived a generally good life. Also was bummed out at the mundaneness of my testimony till a few years back. About 4 years ago I realised that I was not saved. I had lived the good “Christian” life, no bad history to tell of but this one thing. I had believed in my own self righteousness. I was in my 30s when I realized my sin was great. My life looked the picture perfect Christian life but was steeped in a hidden sin. And now my testimony is this. I thank God that he used my upbringing and my belief that I was a Christian to keep me. It is by His hand alone that I did not go down many a path that could have and did tempt me. And that now I have received the greatest gift of all, salvation that is sure vs. what I thought was my own doing and was so uncertain. He is my salvation and in this truth I rejoice each day!!
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That’s a great testimony, Angie! :0)
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Thank you for this insight, Michelle. I, too, was a “good” church girl and used to listen to testimonies you described above. I either envied those who had a dramatic testimony, or I questioned my own salvation because I didn’t have such one. As my husband and I raise our children, we can testify to the temptations we faced and the desire to honor God more than man. And, even more so, our children have witnessed some of the very people who pressured us to do this or that when we were young come back and tell us how much respect they have for us. My prayer is that by these accounts, our children can look at the impact they, too, can make on others even though it currently may not seem like it. Thank you for your post!
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Thanks, Emily! :0)
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Thank you for this.
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You’re welcome :0)
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