Scarlett Black

I have grown up with very committed Christian parents and we go to church almost every Sunday. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at seven years old, but as I grew older, I became very angry at my family to the point where I hated them. All I cared about was having the right clothes, things and friends, but I never had any of the things I wanted so I became lonely, bitter, angry, and hateful on the inside. I still believed in Jesus, but I was just going through the motions.

In tenth grade, the school wanted me to pick a career and I started to think that if I really believed in God, then He was in control of everything and knew what was best for me. Despite these thoughts, I kept on living the same as before, in anger, hate, and loneliness. One Sunday I heard a sermon about how God is in every part of our lives, not just in church on Sundays. That was the day I prayed and told God, “I give up” and that I wanted to follow His will for my life. As soon as I submitted to God, I had a feeling of peace from my head to my toes and have never felt anything like it since.

Since I recommitted to following Jesus's will for my life, everything has changed. I have love and genuinely care for those around me, my relationships are more meaningful and deeper, and I have a passion to help others know who Jesus is and what He can do! Though it took work and strength from God, I stopped being angry at my parents and sister and forgave them, I stopped only caring about material things, and I know now those things don't define me, Christ being in me does. Even though I still have struggles, I have hope for being better every single day because of what Jesus has done for me!

Scarlett Black