Dear Everyone,

A couple of months ago, I shared this on Instagram because the Lord convicted me. I had been posting all these bible study photos with christianese captions while a bunch of my followers didn’t know Jesus. And I started to ask myself, why am I posting everything except the only important thing that’s ever happened to me?

It’s strange, isn’t it? So many of us who follow Christ share every other part of our lives that we want people to see, yet we keep our salvation to ourselves. This is not to cast judgment but to offer food for thought because social media is such an easy way to reach people. I wonder what would happen if believers posted more about Jesus than about their friends or vacations or outfits or politics. Testimonies are not stories of us, but of God’s saving grace, and He shines uniquely through every single one.

So here’s the story of how He saved my life and why He wants to save yours too.

— lyd <3

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To go to church and to know Jesus are completely different things. I didn’t understand this for a long time, and my life reflected that. I was living for myself by myself, trying to meet the world’s impossible standards and desiring a sense of belonging and peace I could never find. I was obsessed with my appearance, my weight, food, constantly comparing myself to everyone around me. Anxiety and depression controlled me, and I believed the lie that my life was only doing the world a disservice. I loved people poorly because I tried to do so out of my own strength, and I had none. I desperately sought solace in acceptance, achievements, every self help book, but nothing made me feel whole.

By the grace of God, I finally resorted to reading the Bible that sat untouched on my bookshelf. I figured it couldn’t hurt because I had tried nearly everything else. I came to find that all I had been wrestling with was written about in that book. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6. I understood what Jesus dying on the cross meant, and how great His love for me truly was. Heaven wasn’t a far off place. Joyful eternity started the second I thanked Jesus for His sacrifice and asked forgiveness for my lifestyle of sin. Each and every day, I ask for Him to make my heart look more like His.  That is what a relationship with Jesus looks like.

1 Peter 2:22–25

“[Jesus] committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

God created us for a relationship with Him, but because of sin, we’ve all been separated from Him. No matter how hard we try, we can’t fix ourselves or earn our way to God. But the good news is that Jesus, God in human form, came to rescue us.  He left heaven, lived the perfect life we never could, and died in our place to take the punishment for our sin. Three days later, He rose again, proving that He has power over sin and death. And because of that, He offers us forgiveness and a new life. Not by working for it but by trusting in Him. It’s completely a gift. Jesus Christ is not just a distant God or a religious figure, but a Savior who sees us at our worst and still chooses to love us.

Scripture is clear in that we are made on purpose, more precious than rubies, loved, chosen, and can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. It didn’t matter that I didn’t *feel* worth anything, my God who saved my life says that I am. He is pleased when I live in accordance to what His word says, and that is what pulled me out of the cycle of despair and brokenness. I had a drive to get better because I loved Him and trusted that what He said about me was true, not because people told me how to stop being depressed and anxious.

Although Jesus has the power to deliver people instantly, that isn’t my story. Mental illness is still a daily battle in my life, but I know how to fight now. I know that my identity is a beloved child of God and I was created on purpose for a purpose. I have a heavenly hope because this world isn’t my home, and there will come a day with no more sorrow, pain, or suffering. I have a peace that transcends all understanding because I know that a sovereign, just, and loving God is in control. I have the power of the Holy Spirit in me and brothers and sisters in Christ around me to lean on everyday when trials come.

Please reach out if this spoke to you at all because I would LOVE to talk to you.  Don’t let the sin of people push you away. I am so sorry if someone claiming to be a follower of Jesus treated you in any way other than radically loving. That is not the character of Jesus. Jesus is waiting for each and every one of you with His arms wide open! He is a perfect and loving Father longing for nothing other than all of His kids to come home. It is a simple gospel— believe in and surrender your life to Him.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light“ Matthew 11:28-30.

I have never known as deep a peace, as great a power, as clear a purpose, or as sweet a love, as I have known in Christ Jesus. The world we live in is so insanely busy, and the constant noise easily drowns out our soul’s helpless cry for true rest. God has the power to take away every. single. one. of our burdens, and He WANTS to. We just have to let Him. What a friend!

“No one in human history has ever been more approachable than Jesus Christ. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms. No prerequisites. No hoops to jump through ... the minimum bar to be enfolded into the embrace of Jesus is simply: open yourself up to him. It is all he needs. Indeed, it is the only thing he works with. You don’t need to unburden or collect yourself and then come to Jesus. Your very burden is what qualifies you to come. His rest is a gift, not a transaction. This is who he is. Tender. Open. Welcoming. Accommodating. Understanding. Willing.” — Dane Ortlund