Living Life Testimony- Anthony Cho

Hello everybody!

I’m going to tell you what I got out taking the life series bible study: living life. This was my second time taking this course. The last time I took it was several years ago.

You know when you read a really good book the inspires you, teaches you and motivates you to live better? You want to do everything in the book, but you end up forgetting a lot and only remember small sections. And I think that’s okay. There are things I needed to hear a few years ago and I think there was new things I needed to hear this time around.

So when I first took living life it really gave me a lot of clarity and insight. But years passed and I felt that needed a touch up. Because I’m dreadfully forgetful. I need constant reminders. I took this class because I wanted to be reminded of the basics again.

Personally this summer I was struggling with a particularly heavy feeling – a feeling of self pity. There are things I want to do. Things I want to accomplish and work towards. But often I find that I don’t. It’s so discouraging to shoot for the stars and look back to realize you haven’t even left your backyard. Sometimes, I’ll have unrealistically productive mornings only to wake up and realize I was just dreaming. No, really. Even my dreams are better than me. I’m not good enough, I hear myself say. I will never measure up, I will never amount to anything worthwhile. I feel like I have it so hard, the cards are played against me, I’m always two steps behind.

There is huge gap, a football field of a gap, between the person I want to be and the person I am. Focusing on the gap depresses me. It makes me feel worthless, useless, not attractive, not successful and ugly. It sucks the joy out of Christian life. But surrounding myself weekly with good teachings and loving fellow students helped me redirect my focus to God. I came out on the other side of thirteen weeks with a renewedconfidence in my self worth through Jesus Christ. I started focusing less on what I am not, and more on who I am in Jesus.

Because I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Just being reminded of who I was enough. Prince of heaven. Royal priest. My self worth comes from God.

Living life also helped me clearly divide the things that were in my control and the things in God’s control. I’m peaceful and I feel more in control of my life because the things I can’t control I leave to God to decide the outcomes. It helps me live, sacrifice, and continue to serve with more peace in my heart than before.

Long story short, it was a great push in the right direction. I recalibrated my selfworth in Jesus and all he has done for me and renewed my heart to be faithful in the things I can control and leave the things I can’t to God. I’m happier, as a result.

I’m particularly thankful to pastor Caleb for always being willing to the time to help my personal growth through avenues like this bible study. I’m thankful for the fellow church members who took this class with me and multiplied the joy of learning and discovery. I recommend this class for everyone. It might not be the same experience as mine, but I really promise there’s something in it for everyone.

Thank you for listening.