“As I finished reading Pavilions of Protection, I saw myself in one of the paragraphs. A year ago, I was out from under the authority of my parents. I was so out of control that my father felt it necessary to keep me by his side at all times.
“I had placed my mind, will, and emotions above God and, just as was written in the book, I began to doubt the accuracy and validity of Scripture. I also began to question God’s existence. The more I sought answers on my own, the more restrictive my parents became and the more disillusioned I became. This led to depression and sleepless nights where I ground my teeth until my jaws ached.
“As a result of this independent spirit, I developed just about ever fear you could think of. Fear of rejection was my primary fear which was accompanied by a series of others including fear of abandonment, fear of future, fear of the world’s opinions, and fear of public speaking. I realized that Christian teenagers today who are out form under their parent’s authority are giving God a bad reputation and profaning the Name of the Lord. This saddened me as I realized that I did that very same thing.
“God used Journey to the Heart to draw me to Himself and change my heart. I asked the Lord to come into my heart and cleanse me. I then surrendered myself to Him and placed myself back under the protection of my God-given authorities. I felt like a literal burden had fallen off of me. I felt free to worship the Lord and be open with my parents!”
~ Hannah
June 2008 Journey
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July 29th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Hannah, thank you for your testimony!!! Until I got to the bottom and your picture, I felt like someone was writing my journey testimony. I know from my own walk with God after getting under my parents authority that your walk too must have deepened considerably since Journey.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Tim, there have been so many times when I have felt the same way about testimonies I have read…I have seen myself in the lives of others.Since journey to the heart, God has changed me so much more than I ever imagined. It is a blessing to others to be able to share that God has changed my life and that I can see him working every day. My hope and desire is to continue to be open with God since I will never be perfect. I know I still have a long way to go but I want to be like Jesus. God Bless you as you strive to do the same!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Hannah and Tim,
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It’s amazing how God works. On my Journey which was just about 2 weeks ago that book was just in our house at head quarters but not “part of the Journey cirriculum.” I had seen it before we left for NW and read a bit. But it wasn’t until we were heading back on the following Sunday that in the van, I asked one of my Journey team members, who had “randomly” taken the book from the house for something to read for the trip, if I could read it. He let me, and although so many wonderful things happened up in NW, I’d have to say that little book, had the probably the most profound impact on me! It was crazy, exactly what I needed to hear, because I was struggling with my mom’s authority at home, and even had Christian leaders telling me that the only solution would be to move out, because I was of age to make my own decisions…boy was I wrong, and I can see how I missed many blessings by the way I was treating my mom. Example: car expenses from a couple ‘minor’ accidents, that I now really feel had a lot to do with not submitting entiring to my mom. Disobedience, and bucking authority was costing me money!
Since then it’s been an increasing blessing to submit under my mom; it’s not always easy but the Spirit of God is keeping me in check with that (as well as my mom, as good moms always do
Thanks for the encouragement guys!
July 30th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Hannah, Tim, and Mark,
Thank you all for sharing! Command #26: Honor Your Parents, has been one of the most life-changing commands for me, and I am very glad to hear that others are also learning the blessing that comes from submitting to authority!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Mark, I know what you mean about the leaders telling you to move out. I’m not “of age” just yet, but I will be soon and I have close relatives who are already pressuring me to do that very thing. I saw as I read that book how wrong they were. There is a true joy in submitting. IT is hard to believe because God’s ways are not our ways. I praise God that your leader brought that book adn that you were open to reading it. pass it on. I would encourage you to disciple other guys your age in that area. I have started doing that on a reg. basis with the girls around me and it really sinks in deep when they see you living it out verses just hearing the words. Praise God!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Thanks for sharing Hannah!!! It was a huge blessing to see what God did in your heart during our journey, and what He is continuing to do!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Laura! I miss you!!!
July 31st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I will do, Hannah, in word and action, deed and truth.
Thanks