My Testimony

Hi reader. Thank you for stopping by and being a part of this blog. My name is Abby and I am twenty three years old. I am married to my husband Kaleb of four years, and Kaleb is a preacher.

When he announced his call to preach, I had just graduated high school, and Kaleb and I had just gotten engaged. I was so proud of Kaleb. He had been going through these spiritual battles that I couldn't understand. But, no one will ever be able to fully understand your personal troubles or trials, right? Except for God.

Kaleb and I got out of church for almost three years, and during that time, Kaleb didn't preach. Kaleb struggled with defining his purpose and questioned what exactly God wanted him to do.

Three weeks ago, God gave Kaleb the confirmation he was seeking to preach again, and God has blessed us immensely. Not to say that he wasn't moving in our lives before this time, but we both felt like we were finally on track, and that the blinders were off. I fully trust that God has big things for our marriage, and I couldn't praise him enough.

Although I am a very outgoing person, when it comes to sharing my testimony, I find it very intimate, so I struggle sharing it openly. However, God is getting me out of my comfort zone and has shown me that my testimony is not something that should seem perfect, but that it's a part of me and it should be shared with the world. I am working daily towards sharing my testimony with everyone, and I prayed for a way to open up and start that. Well, here it is.

When I was eleven years old, I went through a very, mentally trying, time.

I was taken from my mother, and she was no longer allowed to have unsupervised visits with me or my sisters. At the time, I didn't understand what was happening. My mother was and is my very best friend, and I know now that this circumstance was a test of faith for both my mother, and my sisters.

Throughout the time I was away from my mom, depression and anxiety set in at the age of eleven. I didn't even know what these feelings meant, and I wanted nothing more than to get out of the mindset I was constantly in.

A lot of things happened during the time away from my mother, things I do not want to disclose, but I was fighting for the reunion and the freedom from depression.

September of 2012 a court date was set. We walk into the courthouse, the meeting began, and the judge speaks with me about "What I Want Out of This." I tell him exactly how I feel and what I'd been praying for, and an hour later, I'm reunited with my mother.

If I could put into words the relief I felt that day, I absolutely would, and I'd explain it over and over again, but I can't. God met me in that courtroom and showed me that He was listening the entire time.

Fast forward to Summer of 2013, I'm attending Vacation Bible School. I remember the man who was preaching that night, Will Cate. I remember the song that was playing when my heart began to race, "He Knows My Name." I remember gripping the pew in front of me, scared for my life and my eternal life. From the moment I let go of that pew, I don't remember a thing, but the one thing I do remember is I gave my life to Jesus. Now, there had been two times before this moment, one when I was seven, where I'd spoken a prayer and was told I'd been saved, or the time I was nine and saw a church friend go to the alter so I went too and thought I'd received it AGAIN, which is not how it works, but in that moment, I knew that everything I went through ten months ago was leading up to this moment. It showed me how to grow my faith. It showed me that He will never leave me. It showed me that He was there through it all, and that He heard every single prayer.

I haven't been perfect since I got saved eleven years ago. I've sinned time after time. I've done things I knew I wasn't supposed to, but like the song my momma used to sing in church "There's Been a Few Times", He has always forgave me. I intend on living for Him. Though the road ahead is trying, I'll hold on and trust in God to get me through it.

Lord, I thank you for the person reading this right now. Whether I know them personally or not does not matter, because you know them and you know their heart. I pray that if this person is going through a battle right now, that you meet the need, God. Help this person to trust in you to get them through the battles that seem impossible to overcome. You know their hearts' deepest desires, you know every thought they have. I pray that you bless this person immensely, and Lord, if this person does not know you personally, I pray that you give them the opportunity to submit themselves to you.

I give you the honor and glory, Lord, and ask all these things in your precious, holy name. Amen.

Thank you for reading "My Testimony".