LOVE ONE ANOTHER

The Struggle

If anyone can relate to my experience, I hope this will help them.

My parents raised me very well, with morals and values, one of which was a relationship with Christ. Because I was so rebellious as a teenager, I met a guy with a strong Muslim heritage at the age of 17 (I'm 23 now) and found him irresistible, probably because I knew it was the wrong thing to do.

Well, 6 years later, I realize that my parents really do just want what's best for me. For 6 years I missed out on everything I should have enjoyed during this age: the college "experience", moving out of my parents' house, making new friends and enjoying the old, etc. etc. etc. (I could go on). Because I loved this guy so intensely I did everything I never wanted to do.

I lived at home until just recently. It took me 4 years to obtain a 2 year degree at my local community college, and I abandoned good friends and didn't make any in the meantime just so that I could be with "the one I love".

We snuck around for 6 YEARS because both families knew that we were not being smart by staying together. I became more and more depressed until on my 23rd birthday I took a step back and asked myself, what have you done with your life?

God never crossed my mind as I packed up and left my boyfriend and my family plus everyone I love and who loves me back, so I could get away and think for a while. Now here I was, on my own, away from any influences, and I felt so alone.

I knew my life was not right and I felt as if I was at the bottom of an endless, hopeless hole. After a month of being five states away from home, I hit bottom one Sunday afternoon after breaking up with the guy. I was all alone in my apartment, sobbing uncontrollably, when I LITERALLY felt a weight being lifted off my back.

The only way I can explain this to myself is to believe that God knew of my worries and saw that I needed Him to take them off my back. I felt lighter. Since that Sunday, I really believe in God. Any time I feel worried or need an answer I open up Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John and before long, every time, I find the answer that I'm looking for. I hope that you will read Matthew, Chapter 6 beginning at verse 25. It is labeled "DO NOT WORRY" in my Bible. It helps me. If my experience helps ONE person who is struggling, it will all have been worthwhile!