When I lived in Jacksonville, Florida, I was part of a men’s Bible group that met once a month for breakfast at a Golden Corral, which made a private room available to us. The men came from several different churches and all walks of life. Most months, we took turns leading a discussion on a Scripture passage, but occasionally someone would share his testimony.
One morning, Roger told us how his gambling addiction caused him to lose everything, including his job as a chef, eventually forcing him to live on the streets for several years. Today, he is back in the workforce, and once a week he prepares a meal for the men who attend his in-home Bible study.
Bill shared that he had spent twenty years in and out of jail. Amazingly, his wife patiently waited for him. Today, they share a nice home, and Bill works at a major retail store. He convinced the regional director that “it takes a thief to know a thief,” and they hired him as head of security. His store now catches more shoplifters than any other location.
Sam was once a highly successful rock star who embraced the drug scene to the point that he could not function without daily cocaine use. Today, he is married to a wonderful woman, has a family, and serves as a pastor, reaching out to those struggling with drug addiction. I love attending his services, where his sermons inspire and his soaring voice—accompanied by the wail of his guitar—fills the room with joy.
Their testimonies—and all the others—started with the same preface: “But for the grace of God…”
- I was addicted to gambling.
- I was a thief.
- I was a cocaine addict.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:10
It took me a while to share my own testimony with the group. Although my story is also prefaced with “but for the grace of God,” I felt embarrassed because my situation never appeared as physically dire as those of the other men. I never lived on the streets, never had trouble with the law, and never experimented with illegal drugs. In fact, I wasn’t much of a drinker. Other than an occasional cold beer on a hot day while working in the yard, I preferred soda or iced tea.
From the outside world’s perspective, I had “made it.” I lived in a 5,800-square-foot home in an affluent neighborhood, with a 1966 Corvette in my three-car garage and a 45-foot sailboat nestled in its slip at a premier marina in Annapolis, MD. Unlike many of the other men, I attended church every Sunday—and even some weekdays. But in the fifty-fourth summer of my life, I felt a deep emptiness. Something was missing, even though I had “made it,” as they say.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but my soul—my entire being—was yearning for a relationship with God. Yes, I was going to church, but it was a “religious” church—a legalistic one where the emphasis was on rituals and traditions rather than a personal relationship with God.
“You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13
Neither the bells and whistles of this world nor my religion could deliver what my soul was yearning for. While walking back and forth in front of my home, watching the lawn sprinklers soak my beautiful green Kentucky bluegrass, I looked up and said, “Holy Spirit, help me.” It was crickets for four months—until I found myself hearing God’s voice in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean while sailing my boat from Maryland to the British Virgin Islands (see my full testimony if you’re curious).
And I lived happily ever after!
Well… not exactly. 😊
Yes, there is an extraordinary season that many experience when they enter into a personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Believers often call it the honeymoon period.
But “happily ever after”? No, that’s only in fairy tales—and definitely not the case for me or the men who shared their testimonies. The trials, tribulations, and heartaches of life never cease. It’s not a life of “happy ever after,” but it is a life of peace that transcends all understanding. You know who you are because you know who He is. You enjoy living in agreement with His will—in your thoughts, purpose, and actions—as guided by His Holy Spirit.
You come to fully grasp that it was Jesus’ work on the cross that purchased your salvation, not by your own efforts. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
And because of that knowledge, you do the works that please Him—not out of obligation, as some religions teach, but by the grace of God that transformed you into the person you were created to be.
Every week at the end of each service, the pastor of our church encourages and welcomes those who are ready to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior. While I was sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and I heard God’s voice, He placed the following image in my mind.
I believe He wanted me to share this image—to show that He is the light, the answer to all the darkness in this world. You simply need to turn toward Him, be willing to receive His Son, and allow the light of His Holy Spirit to fill you.
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