Miles In My Shoes

Prologue

“God is love, and Jesus is the only way.” “Through Christ, all things are possible.” These are just some of the things we hear as children, before we really understand the concept of life at all and feel the need to believe in these words with all of our heart. So many people today, as did I, need to be reminded in a way that resonates with their souls. It is a reminder that can connect to their own personal lives to truly understand and believe in these words again. For me, listening to or reading stories from people who have been through the same trials in life makes it easier to accept advice and guidance from because you know they have actually walked a mile in your shoes. You can feel the connection to them through their story or song. I pray that reading my story will help remind you that you are not alone and that you are loved by the creator of all creation. Surrendering, if you haven’t yet, and strengthening your relationship with the Lord will allow the Holy Spirit to work through you, to get you where you want to be in life.

I continuously thank God throughout my trials and tribulations because even though some choices I made were wrong in my mind after reflecting on them, they became lessons for me to break unhealthy cycles. God had a plan the entire time. God knows all hearts and knows all situations beyond our comprehension, so he knows my faith even when it was questionable through my actions. A mustard seed of faith is like your pinhole of light to chase away any vast amount of darkness. What you seek, you will find. Jesus Christ is the light. Seeking God in my darkest moment led me to an ultimate choice between love and fear. All things that come from God are love. All things that come from the enemy of our soul are fear. The moment I chose love, I was choosing to fully follow God. Then he would change the way I felt, thought, and even walked. I didn’t have to run in circles through the dark, searching in the wrong direction anymore. He is the light to take me on the roads that I’ve been searching for, the roads that lead to my choice of love, instead of fear. God is love, and Jesus is the only way. It’s all about your heart. At this very moment, breathe and take a minute to feel God’s love.

I am not a teacher or a preacher, but I am being taught on a daily basis through God’s love, and I love speaking about Jesus. Because only through Jesus are we saved. I have to say it again: only through Jesus are we saved. I am here to help remind you that God is real, Jesus is alive, and the Holy Spirit is important. God is with us every second of every day. We are not forgotten. When we repent and turn away from our sins, we are forgiven. Forgive others and forgive yourself, as God forgives you. The mercy and grace you give others will be given back to you by the Lord. You truly do reap what you sow in life. Sow the good seeds of the Lord’s Word in your life garden, to enjoy the good fruits of the Spirit from the inside out. If something is heavy on your heart, let it go and give it to God. Pray about everything, every day. Build and sustain a relationship that will never fail—a relationship with God. Knowing him with your heart is him knowing you. You are the best version of yourself through the Holy Spirit.

If you are hurting or searching for any kind of inspiration or encouragement to help you, this might be the story for you. The ones going through addiction of any kind, including the family members of an addict that you love. The ones grieving from loss (in any way) of someone they love. The ones who stay in relationships of any kind where it feels like the entire relationship is death to your soul, but you stay because that’s what you think love is. The ones who finally found the strength to leave a toxic situation but now are lost with fear as strong as vise grips telling you that you will fail. The ones looking for a way with their willing partner to build a strong family foundation with God but don’t know how to begin, or simply the ones that enjoy a good read. At one point in time, I have been all of those things.

Here in this book are a few miles in my shoes leading to the writing of my testimony. This book, my heart, and any glory that comes from it is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Because of his sacrifice, I am saved. I am alive and living for the first time through him. With faith in Jesus, you too are simply by choosing to follow him. Even if you can’t see or feel it yet, have faith. Your faith in him will save you from yourself and any situation from which you may need saved.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him. But also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:29)

The phrase “you have to get through it to get to it” has new meaning to me now. After suffering and forgiving others as I have been forgiven, I thank God for creating me and life itself. The chains that were holding me down have been broken. I came to realize that I created those chains. I thank Jesus for saving me from myself. I thank the Holy Spirit for being with me. I thank everyone who loves me and has given me support in any way. I thank all the lessons throughout every mile of my life. My heart is now new. Thank you. If anything I went through can help anyone who reads this in any way, writing it for you was worth it to me. I look at the first five miles in this book as scenic routes full of lessons that brought me closer to the Lord and the love I was always searching for. There is no greater love than the love of the Lord. Learning to love through his love is the only way to truly love at all. When you guard your heart, guard it with the armor of God.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2–4)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)