Excellent A journey of hope and purpose. From Fear To Faith by Lana Marie Faith Flash contest entry

My journey of faith began in an unexpected place—at a swimming pool. As a competitive swimmer, I noticed a Catholic minister addressing parents in the bleachers during Sunday warm-ups. It sparked a curiosity about God. As a teenager, I wrestled the fear of death, lying awake at night questioning the purpose of life if it ultimately ended in nothingness. Meeting my dad at age 12 brought new questions and, eventually, answers. By the time I was 16, my dad had become a Christian. He prayed that I, too, would come to know the Lord. At 19, I chose to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Reading the Bible for the first time was life-changing. It revealed truths about who I was, the things I needed to change, and the love God had for me despite my imperfections. My faith gave me a desire to grow into a better person and a deeper awareness of how my actions could impact others. Faith, to me, is a life of unconditional love, acceptance, forgiveness, and hope. It replaced my fear of death with the promise of eternal life and purpose. I now live knowing that what I do today can influence someone else’s eternity. My desire for others to know the Lord has grown deeply over the years. I want everyone to experience His unconditional love, forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life. Faith is not just a gift for me—it is a gift for all who seek it. Faith is an individual journey to every person that chooses to live by faith. It is by faith that we are saved, and by faith that we trust in the irrevocable words of love, wisdom and redemption. Faith has brought me peace that nothing else could ever do! Author Notes Not growing up in church and having a desire to know, God was so strong in my heart. It was amazing that when my dad and stepmom prayed for me to encounter labors in my path, there was a period of two years where people in all kinds of different settings would tell me about the Lord. My life was so lonely, and I was so lost before I came to know Him.

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