AJ, I am so proud of you for sharing your testimony. It turns out, we have more and more bits and pieces in common than I thought. ♥️ It is absolutely incredible to look back and see how God was always there. Oh the stories I know so many of us have!
What a story of redemption, AJ. Thank you for being so vulnerable. Your story is saturated with the gospel, and you are an example of the redeemed of the Lord telling their story. (Psalm 107:2)
I love this thought - "God had been working in both directions at once."
Matt, thank you. I deeply dislike being out in front, so that encouragement really means a lot. Part of what has persuaded me to be vulnerable is the hope of that Psalm, getting to tell the story of the redeemed.
And yes, I pray that the more we see how God is always there, people won’t get discouraged by the hard places they have to confront, but instead begin to see the bigger picture of what He is doing in our own lives and in the lives connected to our story, since God is working in both directions at once.
i know it can be hard to put those messy parts of your past out there for the world to see. i admire you for that, it will bless many people for sure. praise God for your transformation AJ! so inspiring!!
This is such a beautiful story! That's what God does. He is always working behind the scenes. God bless the people who prayed for you. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, what an incredible story. This was emotional to hear—I listened to your audio! Your testimony of God’s grace, traced back into moments you didn’t see Him before is so inspiring. “Robert’s” story sat with me as well. It’s easy to feel like we’ve fallen out of line of God’s will. But I believe with you that He weaves even our mistakes into His story. Thank you for sharing your story and for being vulnerable through it. You may never know the impact this will have on someone. 💛
Jillian ❤️ thank you so much for listening and for your encouragement.
Robert’s story matters deeply to me. Honestly, everyone’s story does. I long to see the full arc of redemption in each person. It feels important to share more than just my radical turnaround story, but also to highlight those who knew God, wrestled, doubted, and discovered His grace and awe in their own way.
That really is my prayer for this article. I hope the people who need encouragement find it and feel reminded that God has been present in their story too.
You are an excellent storyteller and story-treasurer (I’m making this a word 😂). I love to see how God has clearly placed this desire in you to preserve memories and stories from your own life and those around you. It really is such a gift. ❤️
Jillian you give very heart-felt and life-giving encouragement.
A story-treasurer. I love that so much. That's exactly the tension I feel... Yes, I love to write, but the discovery of others stories delights me just as much.
Wow sis, praise God for this powerful redemption story!!! Like Hannah said, we have a lot in common too. It’s AMAZING how He saves, sets free, and transforms us for His glory, isn’t is!? 🙌🙌🙌 I just love hearing testimonies of His goodness and grace like this! Thank you for sharing!!! ❤️
"One of the things that struck me most while processing this story was realizing how long God had been working behind the scenes through prayer." Powerful. Praise God for His mercy. Thank for you sharing.
AJ your life is such a testament to not only the kindness and faithfulness of God, but also to the beauty of you heart. I am grateful to know you. May He continue to lead you in love! 🤎
Wow what a powerful story! I can relate to the weight fornication brings, but by God's grace, my wife and I both waites till marriage for sex and it was one of the best decisions ever made.
Praise God He got you to where you are now. Hopefully this inspires both men and women that death is not the end and that God doesn't stop pursuing us to know and follow Him. That family photo with that adorably chubby baby is so precious!
AJ, I am so proud of you for sharing your testimony. It turns out, we have more and more bits and pieces in common than I thought. ♥️ It is absolutely incredible to look back and see how God was always there. Oh the stories I know so many of us have!
Hannah ❤️ I’m so grateful for you. That C.S. Lewis idea of friendship beginning with “me too” keeps coming to mind.
I’m gobsmacked by how often through Substack we discover shared threads in our stories and realize God has been working in all of us at the same time.
Excited that as time unfolds, we’ll keep discovering just how much God was and is always there.
What a story of redemption, AJ. Thank you for being so vulnerable. Your story is saturated with the gospel, and you are an example of the redeemed of the Lord telling their story. (Psalm 107:2)
I love this thought - "God had been working in both directions at once."
Matt, thank you. I deeply dislike being out in front, so that encouragement really means a lot. Part of what has persuaded me to be vulnerable is the hope of that Psalm, getting to tell the story of the redeemed.
And yes, I pray that the more we see how God is always there, people won’t get discouraged by the hard places they have to confront, but instead begin to see the bigger picture of what He is doing in our own lives and in the lives connected to our story, since God is working in both directions at once.
Thank you for your vulnerability and bravery to share your testimony. There is a song I remember it now:
Even though it doesn’t feel like he’s working…HE IS. Amen.
Thank you. And beautiful lyrics. 🧡
i know it can be hard to put those messy parts of your past out there for the world to see. i admire you for that, it will bless many people for sure. praise God for your transformation AJ! so inspiring!!
Thank you, friend. ❤️
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️❤️
This is such a beautiful story! That's what God does. He is always working behind the scenes. God bless the people who prayed for you. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you. And yes, every prayer is treasured. ❤️
Thank you for sharing this, AJ. What a beautiful testimony of God’s goodness.
Thankful for your willingness to share 🤍
Thank you, Emily. 🩷
Wow, what an incredible story. This was emotional to hear—I listened to your audio! Your testimony of God’s grace, traced back into moments you didn’t see Him before is so inspiring. “Robert’s” story sat with me as well. It’s easy to feel like we’ve fallen out of line of God’s will. But I believe with you that He weaves even our mistakes into His story. Thank you for sharing your story and for being vulnerable through it. You may never know the impact this will have on someone. 💛
Jillian ❤️ thank you so much for listening and for your encouragement.
Robert’s story matters deeply to me. Honestly, everyone’s story does. I long to see the full arc of redemption in each person. It feels important to share more than just my radical turnaround story, but also to highlight those who knew God, wrestled, doubted, and discovered His grace and awe in their own way.
That really is my prayer for this article. I hope the people who need encouragement find it and feel reminded that God has been present in their story too.
You are an excellent storyteller and story-treasurer (I’m making this a word 😂). I love to see how God has clearly placed this desire in you to preserve memories and stories from your own life and those around you. It really is such a gift. ❤️
Jillian you give very heart-felt and life-giving encouragement.
A story-treasurer. I love that so much. That's exactly the tension I feel... Yes, I love to write, but the discovery of others stories delights me just as much.
Wow sis, praise God for this powerful redemption story!!! Like Hannah said, we have a lot in common too. It’s AMAZING how He saves, sets free, and transforms us for His glory, isn’t is!? 🙌🙌🙌 I just love hearing testimonies of His goodness and grace like this! Thank you for sharing!!! ❤️
So amazing!!! Thank you, Angela.
"One of the things that struck me most while processing this story was realizing how long God had been working behind the scenes through prayer." Powerful. Praise God for His mercy. Thank for you sharing.
Thank you, Chelsea. Perspective in prayer is powerful. Praise God.
AJ your life is such a testament to not only the kindness and faithfulness of God, but also to the beauty of you heart. I am grateful to know you. May He continue to lead you in love! 🤎
Lyn, I’m grateful for your encouragement and your friendship.
All beauty because He is beautiful and He has shared His heart with me. 🤍
Thanks for sharing, what a powerful story of how God had been working in your life and others while we were still enemies of God.
Wow what a powerful story! I can relate to the weight fornication brings, but by God's grace, my wife and I both waites till marriage for sex and it was one of the best decisions ever made.
Praise God He got you to where you are now. Hopefully this inspires both men and women that death is not the end and that God doesn't stop pursuing us to know and follow Him. That family photo with that adorably chubby baby is so precious!