Back by popular demand is Believe.com’s second “I’m a Believer” campaign, celebrating some of the newest Christian contributors and community members who are committed to sharing their faith and advice. We hope their transparent honesty will inspire your personal walk with Jesus as well.
Gretchen Hanna recently joined the Believe.com team of contributors. She would like to share with you her testimony of why she believes in Jesus Christ, as well as why she is thrilled to share her faith with the Believe.com community. To view more testimonials and other contributors, click the banner above.
My name is Gretchen Hanna. I’m happily married, nearly 24 years to my high school sweetheart. We have two beautiful biological teen children and 2 incredible daughters, aged 7 and 8, by way of international adoption, who aren’t home with us, yet. It’s painful and excruciating to wait. But God is with me, even when I’m mad at him. This is why I believe.
My Conversion
I gave my heart to Jesus as a girl, but never really knew the fullness of what that meant. I’d have to say the real moment I started to fall in love with Jesus, and accepted God’s saving grace was shortly after I moved to Washington, about 13 years ago. I was a 32 year old mom of very young children, who had only recently lost her own mom, and here I was, pulling up 23 year old roots to move from CO to WA, where I had no family or friends. Talk about lonely!
No Longer Lonely
Jesus gently urged me that I would find the answer to my loneliness if I trusted Him to help me find a church to be a part of. After just a couple of tries, I found my church. I recommitted my life to Jesus very shortly after my first day at church. Let me be clear: I know that going to church isn’t the cure for loneliness, per se; but gathering in a safe place comprised of people who love God and want to share His love with others, is indeed, a powerful weapon against isolation.
The Lies of the Stress-free Christian Life
Sometimes people think that once they accept Jesus’s offer of salvation, that life shall soon be perfect. I think we’re often shocked that this isn’t the case, and it can cause us to be mad at God. OK…I’ll speak for myself. It can cause me to be mad at God.
The Truth about Being Christian
But here’s the truth: For those of us who know and love Jesus; this is not our final home. Yay! BUT, it’s our home for now. Even though our souls are saved when we submit to Jesus, our time on earth will be fraught with suffering, just as Jesus’ time here was full of suffering and pain, because sin broke the world that had been perfectly made by God.
I’m Suffering!
Right now, I’m in a season of suffering. Our family is in the waiting room regarding our adoption—and it’s been a lo-o-o-o-ng wait. Though our children are legally ours according to their country of origin, the US doesn’t yet recognize our adoption. Talk about an unexpected, scary time for us! I believe God led us to these children, and I know He loves orphans and widows. So, I kind of expected a pain-free, “I’m doing what you say to do, so bless me for it, please” adoption experience. But that has not been the case!
I KNOW God Loves Me!
However, I know this: God is big enough to use the brokenness of international adoption to glorify Himself. He didn’t break the world. He came to save it. The Bible says that God will never leave us, nor forsake us, and I cling to that. Our daughters may not come home to us, and I may never know the reason why on this side of Heaven. I don’t know why our friends’ children have come home and ours haven’t. But I know my God is who He says He is. He’s with me right now. And He’s big enough to love me and forgive me for my human responses of frustration, anger, fear, and sorrow.
I KNOW God Loves You!
I know that He made you, too, and He loves you more than anyone ever could. I’d like to thank the folks at Believe.com for this opportunity to share my faith in the midst of our struggle. Please register with Believe.com and drop a comment to let me know how I can pray for you. More of my musings can be found at jewelsinmycrownsomeday.wordpress.com
God be with you.
More info on Gretchen
When she isn’t picking herself off the floor from the shock of her oldest child graduating high school, Gretchen can be found hanging with friends, drinking strong coffee and writing! Find more of her at:
Website http://jewelsinmycrownsomeday.wordpress.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gretchenjhanna?fref=ts
Twitter https://twitter.com/hanna_gretchen
