Lea is one of four Impact students from Germany currently spending a “gap year” at Liebenzell USA’s main campus. She participates in discipleship classes, engages in various opportunities for spiritual growth, social, and cultural activities, and serves within the Retreat Ministry—primarily in housekeeping. In a series of monthly blogs, Lea has kindly offered to share about her journey with Jesus.
Hey there,
Again, as I share my story with you, I only want to glorify the Lord through this writing. Don’t look at me, but Jesus, who writes my story.
Last month I began to share my story about how I came to accept Jesus as my personal saviour. I left off by sharing:
“And then, something happened – something that would change everything.”
Below is the thing that happened to me that changed everything.
I was on my way to a club that I had heard a lot about. At 17, I had no experience in this area. But the desire to fill this hole in my heart, to meet young people, and to have fun had become so overwhelming. Unfortunately, or rather, thank God, I wasn’t allowed into the club because of my age. If I had gone into that club, I’m sure I would have turned even further away from God (which doesn’t mean that going to a club is forbidden as a Christian).
I was left, standing alone on the dark, deserted street in front of the club. At that moment, I felt so lonely, lost, and desperate because my current life situation was weighing heavily on me. It felt like I was standing in the middle of a storm that tossed me around and I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. There was only chaos in my heart and mind.
But on that street, there was also a church, and God led me to this place at exactly this time. In the backyard, the youth group of that church was gathered around a campfire, singing worship songs with guitars. I could see the community among those Christians and the presence of the Lord. And this sight touched my heart so deeply that I thought, “I don’t need a club. I need this!”
I wasn’t part of a youth group at that time but at that moment, I decided to take the step and join this youth group. Even though I usually avoided situations where I would go alone into a group of strangers… But there, in my heart, was a small spark of hope.
This decision has set a few things in motion…
That event reminds me of what Jesus said about that one, lost sheep:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”
This beautiful truth in Luke 15:4 reminds us that God is always seeking the lost, even in the midst of our mistakes or confusion. Like a shepherd, God never stops pursuing us, no matter how far we may wander. It reminds us that we are never truly alone, and God is always ready to meet us right where we are. God did meet me right where I was!
