When I was in 7th grade, I was the fat kid in class, I wasn't very nice to people and I really thought my parents were going to get a divorce.
I struggled a lot personally, with kids my own age and being teased. I wasn't in a good place and I couldn't get bad thoughts, thoughts I don't even want to repeat, out of my head. I felt like I was drowning sometimes and I cried all the time. The only thing that kept me from completely losing myself, and falling apart was praying. I prayed every night, every time I had a bad thought and I prayed for my family to be happy. You see, my dad had an addiction to pot for a long time. An addiction I didn't know about until well after he was saved by God. But, at the time, all I knew was my parents fought a lot and I fought with my dad most every night.
One day, I was laying on the couch in our living room and it was a particularly rough day. My mind was running to places I didn't want it to go and I layed on that couch, crying and praying. I prayed so hard that my mind would ease, that God would take care of my family and take care of me. And then as if a hand was on my forehead, I had this complete feeling of peace. I knew in that moment, everything thing would be okay and that He would take care of me. I knew it wouldn't happen overnight and I kept praying and have prayed ever since.
I prayed the next year and a half and by that time I saw my mother and father be saved by God. I saw my family being happy and together. I saw a love between my mother and father that I hadn't ever seen. I knew from the moment I was lying on the couch praying, that I would see this day. It has instilled in me the faith that God will always take care of me, that he will always be there to fix what has gone wrong if we just trust in Him and pray with all our might. I've had many other struggles since then but He has always provided whether it be something big or something small.
I'm writing this now because lately I've felt such a negative attitude toward God and toward Christians. It makes me so sad for people when I hear them speak negatively about Christianity because I KNOW, and I mean know, what He will do for you. I know the love He has for us and how He provides for us. My faith is such a huge part of me and I think it is one of the things that defines me the most.
I have never had a problem with being friends with people who believe in different political stances or different religions. What I find sad and unnecessary is the lack of respect I've seen toward something I hold so dear in my heart and soul.
