Eye Has Not Seen

Faith is that which you know for certain to be true, though you have not seen it with your eyes.

For two years I have been told by many that I should write the story of my survival and testimony.  My response has always been the same. I cannot write a story that I do not have an ending to.  This thought was challenged this weekend during a chance encounter.

My path crossed with a missionary on Saturday.  I had encountered this person briefly in the past and found them to have a gentle spirit and to be very easy to talk to.  During our very brief conversation this weekend, they revealed to me, that it is among their goals to teach people to share their testimonies in one minute. I initially volunteered that I didn't believe my testimony was complete, as my story is still evolving. They responded with the assertion that there exists inside of us all a testimony that can be revealed in a minute. I laughed.  "My" story could never be contained in such a time limit.  Not knowing my history, the missionary very lovingly assured me that the crux of what was important could be said in a minute. I have since been haunted by the calm persistence in the words that I heard. 

It occurred to me some time later that I had done just that, unknowingly. I had shared my "come to Jesus" moment in one minute, probably less, exactly one week prior to that day.  It was a conversation I had never had with anyone before, but on that night, for some reason, I shared the exact moment in my life when God became real and not theory to me.

In less than one minute, I share with you today.

My life was changed in an instant by a telephone call.  As I hung up the phone, I became paralyzed.  A supernatural feeling of fear and anxiety washed over me to the point that I could not breathe or move my limbs.  Every part of my mind and body was entrapped in the hell and I could not escape. I was terrified in a way that even now, looking back I can not imagine. 
And then, at once, it happened.  My heart was overcome by the most serene feeling of calm  and comfort.  Not through words, but through His peace, I was told to breathe, to move, and that everything would be okay. I was not alone and I would be guided and protected.  So move I did, and have been doing since that day, under His guidance and protection, as promised.

And that is it.  That is when I came to know; not to believe- but to know. 

I know that my I am thriving as a result of God's work through me.  In the moment I realized I had no control in my life, I surrendered myself to be an instrument in His hands.  He has wielded me to do beautiful things and make glorious strides, and as a forever grateful child of His, I have availed myself to stretch further than I ever imagined I could.  It is because of the peace He infused in my heart that afternoon, that I have discovered a joy within myself that I never knew existed.

The world is full of people who can reason and speculate away what I know to be true.  My knowledge is not based upon scientific data or algorithms studied by geniuses. My assurance comes from a truth that was revealed out of sight, in a place where the answers are clear even if the mind cannot explain.