4 minute read
Testimony
Rubie Gorin-Jones (Penge) shares how God has been at work in her life
IWAS brought up in The Salvation Army and I saw people who had a relationship with God, but I never really understood what that meant for me. It is only in the past two years that I’ve come to have a deeper relationship with God and fully understand why I’ve always called myself a Christian.
It all started back in 2016 when I attended an event at William Booth College called Connect. It was held over two days and I was only meant to attend on Saturday, but after such a great day I decided to go back on Sunday. During the meeting a song called ‘God Of This City’ was played, and I remember feeling overwhelmed with a presence that I’d never felt before, but so often seen in others. This was when the seed was planted. I left feeling full of God’s Spirit but confused, as I was unsure of what God was saying to me.
I found myself asking questions and wanting to know more. I knew this was the start of something exciting. From January 2017 things took an unexpected turn. Family members had been suffering with severe mental illness and, as a result, relationships had broken down. I was so confused. God had always been there for us, and now this pain and suffering was happening around me and there was nothing I could do about it. I was so frustrated at God. I had become close to him but I completely doubted him.
By April things didn’t seem to be getting any easier. My life had become this circle of negativity and hatred, and I was confused about how I was meant to keep God’s love flowing throughout it.
At a time when I was broken and felt I had no one I could talk to, God brought an amazing family into my life that supported and loved me, kept my faith strong and put a smile on my face when I didn’t think that was possible. For that I will always be grateful. I could have completely lost my faith but instead it turned into something so beautiful, into an experience I never thought I would have with God. Even when I didn’t understand his plan he was always there to give me strength.
There’s a song that I listen to that says, ‘Father, you give and take away.’ It took me a while to understand what that meant. Things have been taken away that meant a lot to me, but in the midst of that I was given the most amazing thing: God’s grace. He is the only one in my life who has never left my side.
During last year’s regional councils we were listening to a song and all of a sudden my heart started beating really ‘‘ It doesn’t matter what age you are; it’s about the relationship you have with God ’’
fast. There was a strange feeling through my whole body. Sitting in my seat, it felt as though someone was behind me, pushing me to go to the mercy seat. When I got there all I could do was cry. I didn’t feel I needed to say anything; I just felt God’s presence over me, holding me. I didn’t know what to think of it but I knew it was God’s way of telling me that I wasn’t alone and that he would always be with me.
Then there was summer school, which was life changing because of the amazing encounters I had with God, as well as the amazing people I met, who are now my greatest friends. Throughout, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that God was trying to speak to me. As the week came to an end there was one moment when I knew what he was telling me. It was that I needed to take soldiership classes. While exploring that calling I knew this wasn’t all God was saying to me. I realised he was calling me to be an officer in The Salvation Army. I couldn’t believe that, after everything, it resulted in me having this calling!
At the end of my soldiership classes I started to worry that I was too young to become a soldier. I soon realised, however, that it doesn’t matter what age you are or what people might think of you; it’s about where you are in your journey in faith and the relationship you have with God. Never let age be the barrier that stops you from growing in faith and be assured that God never sends you into situations alone. He goes before you, stands beside you and walks behind you, because he has a plan for every one of us.
I’m so excited to see what God has planned for me, as I know this is just the beginning.
