The Post That Started It All

In moments like these, I cannot help but be blown away by what God has done in my life.

I have just gotten back from celebrating my 21st birthday with some of the people I am closest with in my life and have finally had a chance to open my presents - more importantly, I have had the opportunity to read the cards that some of you wrote to me.

As part of my speech tonight, I shared that my life is a testimony of small miracles and exceptions to the rule, glorifying my God as the God of paradoxes who can make the impossible possible, and this is one example.

This time two years ago, my world shattered from underneath me as the consequences of my own stupid decisions finally caught up to me with life-changing repercussions. I lost the family of friends that had stood by me through my parents' divorce and so much more, all because I tried to fight when I should have fled.

This time last year, God had delivered me from my shame and brought me to a place of healing and acceptance, but I still felt a gaping void in my life in the absence of the close community I had once had - especially that of my best friend. However, I had just started attending Lifepoint Church in the evenings and was gearing up for a brand new year of Youth Alive Academy with the hope and promise of a fresh start - a new opportunity to give my best now that I was in a better place internally.

Now.

Now, I sit here with the words of my friends, family, and mentors written in cards in front of me, reflecting on the night I've had and the life I've lived, and I have no words. God has completely healed and restored me from the place I was in and the mistakes I made, not because I deserved it but because He wanted to and taught me how to let Him.

Now, I've spent my night surrounded by family, family friends, friends who have become family - people who I wouldn't be here without and who have supported me in my failures and successes alike, together helping me to become the person I am today - and I had the opportunity to thank them for it.

Now, I went out to the place where these new friendships began - Gilles Plains Macca's, of all places - with 4 of my closest friends, and I couldn't bring myself to say a word but just sat there soaking in the warmth of the new family God has given me.

Now, I look up at the stars in the sky above my house, am reminded of the promises that God made to me, and realise that He has kept every single one of them.

Now, finally, I sit here and thank God for the way He has watched and guided me through every moment of every day. I look back and see that when I felt I was taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back, God was bringing me closer to Him then ever before, and now I see that I am the furthest along the journey than I have ever been, and I am blown away.

My God is a God of paradoxes. He can make the impossible possible, and he can restore and redeem any situation. It doesn't matter if you deserve it, because you don't, but that's not why He does it - He does it because He loves you and He wants to do it. I know He can and I know He will, because He did it for me.

That is the testimony I carry, and it is for that very reason that I will always and forever praise and thank Him for everything that He has done for me, until the day that I die. It is for that very reason that I will live my life in pursuit of becoming more like Jesus and glorifying His name every day, in everything I do.

For everyone who has been with me on this journey of life so far - for better or for worse, for life or for a little - thank you for the ways you have changed my life and helped shape me into the person I am today. I wouldn't be here without you, or without my amazing God. 21 years down, let's see how many more to come! I look forward to living them with you all.