I've struggled with my faith for a long time. Having been raised in the church, I often relied on others' faith to get by. I struggled to know what I really believed. I have no doubt that I believed in the core elements of Christianity. That Jesus was who he said he was and he died for the sins of the world. I believed the stories of my childhood from Sunday School.

But I struggled to make it my own. I struggled to believe that the promises were for me too. Which is kinda insulting to God if you really think about it. But I wrestled with it. I fought with it.

All during this season, I continued to read the bible. I read it to find answers. I read it because I was drawn to it. And I started noticing little changes in my heart. A desire to be a better person.

Then it happened just last week. I was reading a particular scripture and going through the SOAP method of bible reading. The particular verse that grabbed my attention was about God's promises. When I got to the application portion of the method, the question popped up about God's promises. And for the first time ever, I was able to respond that I don't doubt his promises for my life anymore. I believe that His promises apply to me. That I can relax in the knowledge that He has me.

And it's so completely freeing!