as i look back on what my life looked like when i started my blog 4 years ago, things were VERY different i assure you. from the outside, i had a great life, but in peeling back the layers, i was involved in an unhealthy relationship, i was unhappy with my body image, i wasn’t a Christian, and i was unsure as to where my life was headed. sure, i was surrounded by an amazing support system of friends and family, but i wasn’t happy with my situation and i know i was looking for something more out of life.
it’s funny how events transpire because i feel like my life changed unexpectedly for the better so very quickly. i broke up with my boyfriend at the time, meg and i moved into a new apartment which was perfect for a fresh start, i received a promotion at work, and then the real fun started…i was a single girl, living it up and doing what i wanted, until i realized i wanted something i had never had. i wanted a relationship with God.
i began going to a local church (one that we are now members of) and realized that was the missing piece of my puzzle…i desperately wanted to feel what so many of my friends and family felt, i wanted to be saved and i wanted to be a Christian. that is also when jeff and i started hanging out just the two of us, and he started joining me on Sundays at church. that’s when our friendship changed into something else completely.
i am here to tell each of you (and hopefully not sound like i am on a soapbox) that though i don’t routinely “preach” on my blog, this is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. i feel like i had a great life before, but once i became a Christian and put my faith in God, my life changed into something i never dreamed of. all my hopes and dreams came true.
i fell in love with my best friend, the two of us travelling all over the country for time to grow as a couple, we got engaged and bought a house together, we planned the wedding i (and mom) had always dreamed of, and then God blessed us beyond measure with our darling Caroline.
i am here to tell you that having a relationship with God changed my world for the better and that because of Him, i am able to live the life i always imagined.
if you’re ever down in the dumps and are needing encouragement, advice, unconditional love, or someone to listen, God is always there…He changed my life and i am forever grateful.
I couldn't agree more, Natasha! It's amazing what happens when you let go of the wheel and let God take control of your life! Thank you for posting this! đ
I love this post! It really is amazing how things just fall into place when you give up control and your notion of "a perfect life."
Wow you said this perfectly! Love this post! So happy to see what God is doing in your life.
Natasha! This is great! Really have been down on myself lately even as a saved Christian and after reading this I know I need to rely more on Him. Put all my faith and trust into Him and give him the reins to my life! thanks for the wake up đ Xoxo!
Beautifully said. So, so true! I feel blessed to have always had a close relationship with God, but I look back on my life and can see when I was closer with Him that not. You couldn't be more right!
I love this post. So much. I too have struggled with my relationship with God pretty much my whole entire life. However, this past year (my senior year of college) I have started to rebuild my relationship and I have been feeling so much better. It's just the smallest things too, like a quick prayer after a fight with my boyfriend and He makes me feel better.
Great post!
You're such an inspiration, Natasha! Similar to your story, I broke up with my no-good boyfriend over 2 months ago! I was feeling like I needed to build a relationship with God as well, so I started listening to Joel Osteen's sermons and he's helped me so much! I'm in a much better place right now and I am grateful for each day. It truly is amazing how quickly things can change.
http://olgasrecord.blogspot.com/
great post..i kinda did one like this the other day… mine on Happiness..and when it occurred to me that I felt fulfilled for the first time…
Amen to all of this!. God is so good, and He is faithful to his followers! Isn't it crazy to think that 4 years really feels like it was decades ago?! Life is just so much better when the Lord is driving! xo
Great post! You speak the truth here and so amazing to look back at how far you've come.
I put your blog on my favorites list on my blog! Love your posts đ
-Jackie
gentlemenpreferblondes2011.wordpress.com
SO true! My mom always says, "let go and let God!"
AMEN!! Love this post! About 3 years about we started going to our church regularly and really dedicating ourselves to 'follow God' & get involved! I LOVE our church and it has changed our life so much, for the better! And..this coming Sunday is Baptism weekend at our church and I'm doing it. I'm so thrilled to be getting rebaptized in my faith and simply 'doing life with God'
I cannot agree more with this post. God truly works in mysterious ways and is always there to bless us beyond any measure we could have ever imagined — and He can do it ever so quickly. Thanks for sharing. đ
Totally agree! Great post. It's incredible what can happen when you give it to God. He blesses us way beyond what we deserve or could ever imagine!
This is a wonderful post – such a great testament to God's goodness and grace! Thanks for sharing đ
So true! Love this!
Amen. I have a similar testimony, as I didn't get saved until I was in my early to mid twenties. On the outside it looked like I was living the life, but inside I knew something was missing. Jesus frees us in a way that we otherwise would never experience. So thankful for your testimony! đ
Thanks for sharing this! Couldn't agree more with letting HIM take control!
I really love this post. I enjoy reading your blog and this is my favorite post so far. You are the reason I wanted to be brave and start a blog. : )
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
rachaellambanderson.com
I love this post. I just posted about feeling convicted about sharing my faith on my blog. Thanks for sharing!
It makes my heart so happy that you've have made such a public profession of your faith. You have such a huge impact, Natasha! I pray that the Lord would bless your willingness to share a little bit of your testimony!
I love this post and the fact that you are sharing your journey to a relationship with God. I first developed a relationship with Him towards the end of high school and that relationship has gotten me through so much in my life so far. Having faith in Him and his plan for us can truly change your life. You couldn't have said it better đ
this was so touching! I'm so happy that you turned to Christ in your time of need. He is good and had great plans for you all along, He just wanted you to let Him show you what they are. Hope you have a great Friday Natasha!
I can't tell you how much I needed to read this today. It's so crazy to me how God works in our lives…I've been so down in the dumps over the past day or two, and I opened up my reader this morning to this as the first post I saw–and I literally just read and cried. I needed this more than you know! Thank you for your honesty, your sincerity, your willingness to share your heart with us. It means SO much to me, sweet friend. You are precious and wonderful…such a blessing in my life!
Love this!! So needed to read this right now!
Amen!!
what an awesome post sweet girl. God is good. xoxo shel
It's amazing how easy and fulfilling life is with God in it, even when it doesn't appear to be going your way…He always has a better plan in mind.
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Beautiful post!
KK
This is just the post I need to read at this moment. Thank you! Last year I put myself more into my faith and it has truly blessed me, as I move forward I hope to become closer and closer.
great post, natasha! thanks for sharing!
What am amazing & inspiring post.
What am amazing & inspiring post.