Guest Writer Brian's Faith Story
Hello everyone! Thanks for reading and being in God's presence : D
Today I am trying something new, let me know how you like it. I am working on posting my own faith story on here, but in the meantime, I received one from one of my best friends, Brian. So, to not delay any longer, here it is:
"While often times when you hear of someone’s faith story, you think of some profound event that occurred in someone’s life, or some great role model that had a large impact on his or her life. My faith story on the other hand resembles something more along the lines of a rollercoaster. I am not talking about how amazingly fun my faith story has been, but more that there are several twists, turns, dips, and dives. At times, I have been rushing down the twisting winding hills full force pursuing a seemingly never-ending relationship with God, but then the track begins to go upward again at seemingly painfully slow non-fun vertical rates causing my relationship with God to practically cease to exist.
Thankfully, for my sake, my life started off by going in full force down a seemingly endless hill on this life rollercoaster. When I was younger I was privileged enough to have parents that brought me to be baptized shortly after I was born. It all started at a Lutheran Church in Minnesota. Those that I did not know, but who loved me deeply, surrounded me. When I was younger, it seems like all I could remember was going to Church on Sundays. Although I did not quite understand God, or who He is, I always enjoyed all of the arts and crafts projects that we did and I even enjoyed the few times when I was lucky enough to get to go to Church with the big people. It was almost as if I was hurling down a roller coaster track way too fast, having way too much fun in pursuing my relationship with God.
And hurling down the track too fast I was, for I soon reached the bottom of this hill; things started leveling off. No longer did we go to Church every Sunday. It was not as fun to go to Church anymore, and I found it boring. Even a lot of my friend’s at Church started not being there most of the time. Not too long after, my family stopped going altogether. Being four or five at the time, I was perfectly OK with this. It simply meant more time for me to spend playing and doing things I wanted to do. And so, the slow painful boring trip up a hill began, and my relationship with God practically ceased.
Years of this seemingly non-existent relationship with God seemed to go on. Once again though, when I was in third grade, some family friends invited us to go to Church with them at a different Lutheran Church. After simply a couple Sundays, I was hurling downward screaming with glee at my newfound excitement in church. Every week I was always eager to memorize the verse of the weak and recite it to my parents as soon as church was over. I was always learning so much, and loved it.
These wonderful times, however, were short lived. By the time I was in fourth grade I was already finding Church boring again. Every week it seemed like I would beg my parents so that we would stay home and not go to church. Things really became even worse when the timing of Sunday school and the services no longer lined up. I mean, come on, it was boring enough as it was, now they were making me stay for twice as long? When this started happening, my family no longer attended church. It seemed as if I would be on this painfully slow upward rollercoaster ride forever. Which at the time, this seemed like the best thing in the world because no longer did I have to sit through the painfully long boring church services every Sunday.
My life continued on this trend. Everything seemed well to me. Then, just before going into 6th grade, one of my friends invited me to go a Methodist church with him. I wanted nothing to do with it. I still remember how nervous I was that first Sunday. I did not understand a lot of what was going on. Communion seemed a lot different and more important than it did at my old churches. Maybe it was just because the way it was done was different, or maybe it was simply because I was older. But, to be honest, that freaked me out. Also, there was all this talk about Jesus, and needing Jesus in your life. This was all new to me. I continued going to Church, but I never really thought too much about it.
But then the same friend that invited me to go to the Church with him to begin with, invited me to go on a retreat with the youth group. Again, I did not want to have anything to do with any retreat. Despite all of my protesting, I went on the retreat and I absolutely loved it. Because of it, I became excited in attending other events, going on other retreats, and even mission trips. So once again, I was slowly starting to head downhill, on the fun part of my faith rollercoaster.
Ninth grade is where it all really started. Confirmation started, it was the summer after my first mission trip, and something amazing happened. Part way through my ninth grade year I decided to go to a mega rally at a local Christian college. I did not know any of the other teens from my church that were going, but my youth director convinced me that it would be a lot of fun. I must say, the Christian rap music there was, well, different to say the least. Although I may not have enjoyed the music to its fullest, it was at this rally that I asked Jesus to be in my life, and my life was changed. My faith rollercoaster was hitting G-forces that I had never even dreamed of before.
While I may have only gone through a few of the twists, turns, breakdowns, and bumps in my faith rollercoaster, there are a few things I have learned along the way. I have learned that God is always there, he does not promise smooth sailing, but no matter what you are going through, he is always there. I have learned that God always forgives. Repeatedly I have pushed him away, be it by sinning, by ignoring him, or by not even acknowledging his existence; but yet he always lets me get my rollercoaster headed back down those fun twisty-turny hills once again. God does this for everyone. No matter what has happened on your rollercoaster in the past, even if it has not even started yet, what lies ahead is up to you. God is always there just waiting to help you get your rollercoaster rolling."
So, I thought the roller coaster idea was a GREAT analogy for your faith story, Brian, and thanks for letting me share this!
I encourage you all to write up your faith stories, and post them, but write one up even if you don't want to post...It's a great way to reflect on your faith life.
And, I will post mine next, hopefully that will be soon!
Keep your faith alive!
Your sister and witness in Christ,
Emily
1 comment
I won\'t publish my testimony at this time, but I just thought I\'d comment on Brian\'s: I agree, that\'s a sweet analogy for your journey of faith, I\'ve never thought of using a rollercoaster before! One thing I would suggest, Brian, if you tell this story again, include a verse or two from the Bible and tell why they\'re important to you. Also, tell about how you\'ve seen God work in your life, mini stories like that are always encouraging. Anyway, I\'m glad to have read it. Thanks for sharing!