I grew up in a Christian home, learning about God. However, I often viewed Him as far away and that I needed to earn His love. I asked Jesus into my life as a teenager, but abuse as a child (from a family friend) and also in my adult years fueled the lies I believed about myself and God. I wanted to live for God, but I still had pain in my heart and needed healing in order to fulfill the purposes God had for my life. I struggled with depression, pride, self-pity and shame. And bulimia became a way of coping for me.
After hearing the testimony of a friend who was set free from bulimia, I had hope that I could be free one day, too. But I knew I needed help to get there, so I applied to Mercy.
At Mercy, I received the love of God for the first time. The unconditional love of the staff at Mercy softened my heart to receive the love and healing I needed from Jesus. My view of a God as far away and demanding changed to encountering Him as a God who draws near to the brokenhearted, speaks tenderly to His children, and gives them hope for their future. He set me free from bulimia and depression and told me I am free to help others find freedom!
After Mercy, God led me to Texas to work in a drug and alcohol recovery home for women. God confirmed this was a place for me to love on women who had been through similar things I had been through. It continues to be a place where I’m reminded daily of the relentless pursuit of Jesus to heal broken hearts and transform lives. I have also completed a discipleship training school, and have had the opportunity to travel to several continents on mission trips.
Over the past couple of years, God also began to awaken my heart to long and believe for a husband one day. He wanted me to receive His affirmation and words of identity before ever hearing them from a man. I heard Him say one day, “My Love, I want you to know you’re chosen before a man ever chooses you. I want you to know you’re beautiful before a man ever tells you you’re beautiful.”
I waited and believed, still committing myself wholeheartedly to the things God had called me to. What I couldn’t see during the wait was that God was in the process of restoring my future husband, who was finding freedom from addiction. Eventually, our paths crossed at one of our church’s weekly small group gatherings and I was amazed how well we connected. Ty had a heart for similar things and a similar vision for his future. I heard God say of Ty, “I trust him. You can trust him, too. I want your heart to be open to him.”
Over the course of the next few months, we began a relationship, and the Lord spoke to us about marriage. We both felt commitment in our hearts to each other and a desire to respond to God. Ty asked for my dad’s blessing and then proposed to me that same night. Of course, I said, “Yes!”
We are getting married in just a couple of months! We are so excited about the journey ahead because we know it’s about much more than ourselves!