grow - maddy allen

24th January 2011 by MORE

I grew up in a Christian family. For generations my family have been Salvation Army Officers. I also have an amazing sister – a really strong Christian role model. I've grown up in the shadow of all of them with the expectation on me that I would be the perfect Officer's kid who would eventually follow in the footsteps of them all.

On Monday night at Gopsle Arts Camp (GAC) this year the preacher Lauren asked the question – "Who are you?"

I realised that who I am – my identity – has been defined a lot by everyone else – not by me. I reached a point where I was questioning and doubting a lot of stuff I had accepted – like whether the whole Christianity thing is true or not. On Monday night I was talking to my sister. She was telling me that she got to this same point in her own faith and she said to God, "I need a sign" to confirm things. She hadn't even finished asking when it happened.

So I decided that I would wait for God to do the same for me – by the end of GAC. It didn't happen though.

Something I've realised since then is that even though you might know exactly what you want to happen from God doesn't mean that's what he'll want for you.

Like with camp, I knew exactly what I wanted but didn't really think about whether it was what God wanted to happen. And you know it wasn't what God wanted for me. He helped me but in different ways. He talked to me through people like my sister, Dani Weedon and Lilly. They were the ones who knew exactly what was happening and what to do about it. They were the ones who God spoke through.

Something we all have to realise is God has a big picture planned out for us. We may not already know what we want but God knows what we need. He knows exactly what's right for us.

Comments

Ness

January 24, 2011 at 11:36am

Maddy! Your story is such an encouragement, and full of wisdom! Love hearing how God is working in your life, and how He is speaking to you through others! Praying that you'll continue to find your identity in Him, and that you'll continue to trust that He does know exactly what's right for us.

One cheer from me, one from God, one from Jesus, and one from the Holy Spirit! x

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