Brag on God

Christina recently wore a shirt that read “Choose your weapon…They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” I asked her to practice her weapon. This is what she said….

Jesus saved my soul.
He is my gentle shepherd.
He is my best friend.

By Christina

In the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, I found myself overwhelmed with the pain and struggle of my life. One day I asked God, “Why so much pain?” I’m not sure if I really expected an answer, but His answer astonished me–and still does.

Shortly after I asked this, I went to the bathroom. I remember standing in the front of the bathroom sink–lost in thought. Suddenly the wall of the bathroom disappeared. For about two seconds, I was in another time and in another place. I saw Jesus on the cross. It was so real, like I really was there. It was like I was at Calvary. I saw the blue sky in the background and in the foreground, Jesus on the cross. And that was His answer to the question, “Why so much pain?” I was touched by it. I realized that Jesus faced a lot of pain on the cross, too.

I was stunned by the vision–and am stunned still. If it spoke a whisper of hope to me then, it shouts volumes today, for now I know:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

I don’t merely know this. I have experienced it. The cross has become my breakthrough. As I have learned about the forgiveness that comes through the cross and how it reunites us with God and have received that forgiveness, I have experienced victory, freedom, and emotional healing. I truly have been healed by His wounds.

The words to thank the One who bought it all seems trite. But I mean it with all my heart. “Thank you, Jesus!”

By John Allan