Global Story Week: California, U.S.A.
It’s Global Story Week on the Mars Hill Blog. Enjoy these stories of gospel transformation, and visit marshillglobal.com to share your experience.
Changed By Jesus #44
By Jacqueline in California
A year and a half ago I was at the lowest place in my life. I had moved to NYC to chase yet another dead-end relationship, I had spent all my money, and had nowhere to go. I kept trying to push the reset button on my life and move somewhere new, but could never delete my problems or bad habits. When I moved to California I was determined to get my life together, but, yet again, rushed into a relationship with the next person who showed an interest in me, hoping they’d make me happy and fill the void.
I shared an office with a Christian who had an amazing testimony: he got saved in jail and has been happily married for 12 years. He never preached at me or pressured me, I could just tell he was truly happy, and I wanted to know why and how. Then he introduced me to Jesus through Mars Hill. Coming from a “Catholic” family, who went to church when I was little but never once discussed the Bible or Jesus the moment we walked out of the building, I was really skeptical about church. But something clicked.
At this point I had started a new relationship with a Christian man who had walked away from God, and walked right into my bedroom. We moved in together the first week. Later on, for eight months, I began to have a voracious appetite for the Word.
I began listening to sometimes three sermons a day at work and in my car. It just made so much sense. I was so intrigued and wanted to be loved so badly. But listening to the Peasant Princess series and 1st Corinthians, I felt so convicted; we were living/sleeping together, but I felt like there was no way out. At this point, I wanted to consider myself a Christian, but just felt like a cop-out, a hypocrite. I loved God, but didn’t trust him.
Once I got to “Good Sex, Bad Sex” my heart changed. I finally learned the difference between being obedient because I have to, and choosing obedience because I trust that God loves me wants the best for me. Satan always makes the wrong way seem more practical. It’s all lies. If you want to make the change in your life to obey God, he will be faithful and provide you the ability to do so. It’s scary, but it’s a choice.
Telling my parents, friends, and sister that I decided to move from my beautiful apartment into the guest room of my boyfriend’s parents house was hard; they definitely think I’ve gone off the deep end. But hopefully they will see the change in me, and be curious about Jesus like I was.
And my relationship is better too. Removing sex has given us the space and time to deal with both of our pasts, to really learn who each other are, and to redeem each other and rebuild our relationship on rock instead of sand.
Mars Hill Global
