Marie Claiborne

I was raised in church, but as a child I resented God. I was mean and spiteful, disrespecting my parents and inventing ways to get others in trouble for the sake of seeing them punished. I had no desire to be what God wanted me to be.

One night when I was ten years old, I was in bed when, suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of sorrow for the wrong things I had done came over me. I knew from my church background that this was the Holy Spirit convincing me of my need for forgiveness. The longer I struggled with that feeling, the stronger it became until I had to talk to someone about it. I got up and found my mother, explaining to her my desire to let God make me a different kind of person. She led me in a prayer to tell God I knew I had broken His rules and deserved to go to hell but was sorry and wanted Him to take me to heaven since Jesus paid for my sins by dying on the cross. My relationship with God began that moment. I soon started learning how to live my new life. Over the next few years, I strayed from my closeness to God, even doubting His existence which made me fear that I had not given my life to Him, so I confirmed my decision to do so at a Christian youth camp when I was fifteen.

After confirming my decision to trust Jesus, I learned many proofs of God’s existence which settled those doubts. As I have continued my relationship with God through Jesus Christ, I have grown in love for Him as well as for other people. Best of all, I know I will spend eternity with God in heaven.

Marie Claiborne