Whitney Gatlin
I, like most Christians, grew up in a Christian home. My family consisted of my grandparents, my sister, and myself. We were there practically every time the doors were open, Sunday mornings and nights and on Wednesdays. I loved going to church. As a small child, I loved to learn about Jesus, but I knew there was still something missing, an emptiness that seemed like it couldn’t be filled. While growing up, I had to learn a lot of hard lessons. My father was killed before I was born and my mom didn’t want my sister or myself. For me, at times, I felt as if no one really wanted me. At the time, I didn’t know that God had done all this for a reason.
I realized my need for something more when I was in the first grade. I was six years old. It was during the AWANA program at Westgate Baptist Church that I realized that there was something missing. That night they had talked about what Heaven and Hell were like. I knew I didn’t want to go to the place called Hell so when they gave the invitation, another girl and myself raised our hands. Mrs. Johnson took us to another room and shared with us how we can know for sure we that we would be in Heaven with God forever when we die. She told us that Jesus came to this earth to die for our sins. That I was on His mind the entire time. And then she explained that He did not stay dead. He rose in three days and is as alive as you or me. That night, I accepted Christ in my heart and He now and forever will live in me.
My life has not been perfect by any means. When I was a teenager, I became rebellious and bitter. I blamed God for the things that were happening to me. I found out that my father was killed by a drunk driver, and then I found out the truth about my mom. I thought to myself, “Why would God allow this to happen to me?” I was not exactly depressed, but I think I came pretty close to it. It took one preacher in chapel, during my junior of highshool to really catch my attention. I was living a double life. I was living one way at school and one way at home. I knew that this was not the way God wanted me to live. He wanted all of me, not just part. That day, I dedicated my life to God and since that time, I haven’t been happier. I’ve been on three mission trips (which include New Hampshire and Nicaragua), I attend a wonderful church, I have the best friends anyone could ever ask for who encourage me all the time, and so much more. God has really blessed me to be in the position I am in. He’s given me my talents and abilities to glorify Him and that’s all I want to do. No more do I think that I’m alone. Knowing that God is on my side makes living worth-while. No longer will I ever have to walk the road or fight my battles alone.
Posted in I Grew Up in Church, I Ran from / Avoided God ,
