// Real Stories // Amelia //

I think one of the realest things to me is forgiveness. I grew up in a Christian family, and so the concept of forgiveness was one I heard about a lot, but I didn't really take much notice of it because I was already a Christian and so I thought I was pretty ok. As I've gotten older, though, I've realised that I'm actually as much in need of forgiveness as the next person. I’ve done plenty of things wrong – being a Christian by no means makes you perfect – but when I was 14 or so, I developed an addiction that stemmed out of some intense loneliness, and before I knew it, it was a huger part of my life than I could have ever imagined. The guilt and shame of something like that is astounding, and because of that there are often times when I don’t feel worthy of the title ‘Christian’. But the great thing is that God loves and forgives us anyway when we do something wrong. The fact that he sees me, and sees everything I do both good and bad, and STILL forgives me and accepts me as I am is incredible, and it is so much more powerful than any shame I could ever feel. It’s not the type of forgiveness given by friends or family, which can come and go depending on how one of us feels; it is an all-encompassing, endless, full and REAL forgiveness. The Bible says that there is no condemnation for anyone who lives their life with Jesus (Romans 8:1), and that, to me, is entirely real.

// Events week - Jan 28 - Feb 1 | 2019 //