Hi my name is Tash, and this is my testimony of how God has worked throughout my life. I was born in a Christian family and raised by my two lovely parents (Roger and Caroline), along with my younger brother Brendan. You could say my life has been pretty sheltered from the outside world. Having been born in a Christian family, grown up attending church and even Christian education, I thought that most people in our world were Christians. The very idea of being a non-Christian sounded weird and unheard of – I mean who wouldn’t want to live in heaven forever!
Being raised in a Christian environment, there hasn’t ever been a moment where I didn’t know God. Furthermore, I’ve always considered myself a Christian but have been trying to grow in godly maturity after finishing high school. Though I learnt lots about the Bible throughout Sunday school, all the stories I knew were simply head knowledge and had never truly applied in my heart. Memorising scripture and learning about God’s plans from ages past in the Old Testament to the coming of Jesus in the New Testament was useless until it was applied in my heart. Little did I know that God had big plans for this knowledge later…
Since I was sheltered in the sense of not knowing what the world was like on the outside, God didn’t hide the fact that there was, and still is, so much brokenness in our world today. From hearing about murders or theft on the news, to seeing classmates or church friends struggling with physical disabilities or mental health throughout my school life. Even sickness was prevalent, from the common cold to COVID-19 to cancer. Having gone to funerals of friends and family, I could see that death itself was a painful reality.
I knew from Sunday School that God is always in control, and has a plan for everything, but how could he possibly allow for all this pain and suffering to continue in this world? Well, in Romans 5:3-5, it states, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”. I learnt that God is truly good in the face of suffering and uses our trials as a means of bringing us closer to Him. Because of this, we can rejoice in our sufferings knowing that there is something better to look forward to! Though we all will experience many sufferings and pains throughout life, I can be assured that no matter what happens, God has a plan for me.
I learnt that God is truly good in the face of suffering and uses our trials as a means of bringing us closer to Him. Because of this, we can rejoice in our sufferings knowing that there is something better to look forward to!
All the knowledge that God had taught me throughout my childhood has allowed me to connect the dots throughout the Bible and see how he has worked through each person to point towards his son Jesus Christ. Likewise, I can see how God has worked throughout my own life to open my eyes towards him, and live out his calling for us to be salt and light in this world. Knowing full well that God is in control has allowed me to live more freely and boldly for Christ without having to be fearful or worried. Since high school, I have been on mission for God and now serve in various ministries across church and ACG to show others the love that God has shown me! I hope to be a living testimony to all those around me, that Christ is at work through my words and actions.
Allelous Community Group 