Encouragement

Throwback Thursday ~ Testify

Originally published August 9, 2016

When I was a kid, it was commonplace 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.

Dramatic testimonies often leave those who were raised in church and saved young ashamed of our testimonies. As though they’re 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 she said she used to sit and weep and 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.

And it hit me. This lady would have given anything for a “boring” testimony like mine.

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.


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4 thoughts on “Throwback Thursday ~ Testify”

  1. Respectfully, would set your emails to be distributed between the hours of 10:00am and 9am EST, please. This would be a courtesy to those on PST and in between as well. Thank you.

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    1. Hi Diane- Emails are sent out when the article posts. If you’re getting email notifications that are disturbing you, may I respectfully suggest turning off notifications or setting your phone to “do not disturb” and simply checking your email whenever it’s convenient for you.

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  2. This “testimony” stuff was brought up in our ladies group just a few days ago. I too was saved at younger age, 11, and thought exactly as you’ve written. Gods timing is always perfect! Thanks.

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  3. Hi Michelle – Thank you for sharing this. I’m heartbroken when I look back to the time before Christ saved me and recall the pain I put myself through when I wasn’t walking with Him. I just know that I would have kept myself from so much heartache if only…. But His ways are perfect and who am I to question them? He saved me in His time.

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