God seemed a long way from me.

I was brought up in a Christian family and can remember being in church my whole life. However, I didn’t make a commitment until I was baptised when I was seventeen. Life seemed pretty good. I went to university for 4 years, then came back to Thornhill where I worshipped regularly.

However, when I was 27, I got married and for 5 years suffered abuse. I finally got the courage to leave and my life was so upside down. I felt guilty for getting married in the first place. So many people had reservations about the marriage and I had ignored them. I hadn’t listened to God and my faith took a dive. I spent the next 10 years in and out of hospital with suicide admissions, and I was on heavy medication, referred to a psychologist and had weekly nurse visits. God seemed a long way from me.

With the help of doctors, my family and the church, I have healed. Looking back, God was with me along all my troubles and carried me – saving me from death. I now worship God every day and continually thank him for letting me live. My faith has been restored. I am forgiven and God loves me for who I am. He has enabled me to have courage and to encourage others as I have been by Him and my family.

I still take mental health medication, but I am free. I am a child of God and my life belongs to Him. I am able to let God’s love fill me and work through me and be a witness with my faith to everyone I meet. I am now an active leader and helper in various roles at church. All of these roles are God given and God inspired. God is good, praise Him!