This summer my pastor encouraged the church congregation to share their faith testimonies—of how they came to faith in God as believers in Christ.

I was encouraged to share a written (one-page) faith testimony—of how I became a Christian and how God has transformed my life. I thought it might be useful to share it here in this blog, with a hope that the story of how God has comforted me can be used to bring comfort to others.

So, here is my brief faith testimony:

I was born in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian country with the largest Muslim population in the world (at least, as of today). Nevertheless, by God’s grace I grew up in a Christian family, attended a Christian elementary school (Grades 1–6), and regularly went to Sunday school at a church in my hometown. So, my parents and teachers (both at school and church) arguably played an instrumental role in “laying out” the foundation or “watering” the seed of my faith.

However, growing up as a teenager, I struggled with the issues of identity and self-image. Due to exposure to some family/parental conflicts, I had to wrestle with mental/emotional issues which slowly manifested as anxieties, doubts, bitterness, and unworthy/insecure feelings. As a result, I was unsure if I was really loved and accepted (especially by God, but also by others). So, in my escape, I became addicted to sinful, self-seeking/pleasing activities that, I know, were not God-honoring—to the point where I had to struggle with insomnia for several weeks/months. In my mind, I had questions and doubts about God that I could not even share with my family. It was like the enemy was trying to shackle me and destroy my life. During those times, I gave up my life to Jesus and got baptized when I was 14 years old. After high school, I went into a university in a city located far away (over 400 km) from my hometown—part of the reason was to move away from the ‘toxic’ environment to start a ‘new’ life with ‘freedom’. Thank God, He opened the way.

Long story short, in that new city I experienced God’s love through people—most of them were university students doing outreach from/for local churches—who reached me and impacted my life with their kind/loving actions and words. In one retreat event organized by a local church, I felt God’s love so powerfully “breaking my chains” and “releasing my heavy burdens” during the time of worship—I felt joy and freedom when someone prayed over me, as if God Himself touched me and spoke to me. Since then, I joined discipleship, served in the ministry, and grew deeper and stronger in my faith through Bible study, service, and fellowship with His people. I am truly thankful that, anywhere the Lord has placed me, I was given opportunities to actively serve at local churches—in three different countries thus far: Indonesia, South Korea, and Canada—in addition to my main responsibilities as undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in the field of chemical engineering.

By God’s grace and power, I have been redeemed and transformed into a new person. I have been set free from sinful addictions. I no longer live with the enemy’s lies and intimidation. I grew up with an increasing love for the word of God through daily devotion. I feel like I have been ‘addicted’ to His words, which fill me with wisdom, peace, joy, hope, and strength through His truths and promises. I now know that God loves me as His precious child.

I can testify that Jesus saves me, and the Spirit sanctifies me. I’m glad and grateful that God can use, even sinful and broken people like me, for His purposes. I will always remember the Bible verse my dad reminded me of, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away and all things have become new” as well as my own favorite verses that “there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” because “nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I believe that He is the One who builds my life and that He, who began a good work in me, will always finish what He has started. To Christ be the glory!

A prophet of God in the Old Testament, Elijah, had faced depression and anxiety to the point where he said, “Lord, I want to die.” Yet, God gave Him the strength to live by sending an Angel to comfort him while he rested. Perhaps what you need the most now is rest and comfort in His presence.

You might be frustrated with your circumstances or feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and worried about how everything is going to work out. People, even those who were close to you, might have let you down. You might feel there is no hope for the future.

Guess what? This could be a great opportunity for you to depend on God more!

He is the One who causes all things to work together for your good. He is the One who will never fail you, nor leave you, nor forsake you. He is the One who holds the future and knows the plans that He has for you—plans to prosper you and to give you a future and a hope!

I pray that you will find a true peace and a real courage in His promises—even amidst your fiery trials or through deep waters and dark valleys that you are going through.

Let me share with you this good news:

God, being the greatest of all in the universe, is willing to KNOW and CARE for each and everyone of us in a personal, intimate way. Through Jesus Christ (God the Son), all believers can become the children of God the Father. He has promised to always be with us forever, despite our flaws and wrongdoings—going through our ups and downs, scars and struggles, and even through the most painful or darkest moments that no words can express—and even when no one cares about us or stands with us. That’s the great love of God for us!

I believe in the importance of sharing our faith testimonies, as it is written in Scripture that God can use them to overcome the enemy (Satan, the accuser).

Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Revelation 12:10-11, NKJV

And this is my encouragement to you today: celebrate your ‘small’ victories.

You don’t have to wait until you achieve great things to rejoice and give thanks. Don’t despise small progress. Gratitude often started small.

Start your story with a simple question, such as “How has God been good to me?”. You’ll be surprised that you have a lot to tell!

So, you can share your testimonies now! Write them down, and let others be encouraged by your stories.

Let God use them to touch hearts and transform lives.

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^{This article was written in Delta, BC, Canada on September 30, 2024.
The featured image was designed by the author with AI-generated image.}

Read also:

• Chemical Engineering and Christianity
• Becoming A Witness: The Privilege of Sharing Your Story
• Broken to Bless: An Act of Worship and Love